RSPCA crisis amid ‘unprecedented’ feline intake
The RSPCA neutered 3,218 cats last year.
The RSPCA has urged cat owners to get their pet neutered after an ‘unprecedented’ increase in cats in their care.
In December 2025, the charity had more than 1,400 cats in its care across the country. This is a 72 per cent increase from the 832 cats with the charity in December 2021.
The wider RSPCA network, consisting of 133 registered charities, brings that total to at least 2,300 cats in care last year.
The charity has raised particular concern regarding the timing of this increase. In December alone, it saw a 30 per cent increase.
Such increases would normally happen within the traditional ‘kitten season’, in summer.
The RSPCA is urging cat owners to neuter their pets and prevent unwanted breeding. It believes that the population problem could be caused by misconceptions about neutering.
One common misconception is that cats can only become pregnant when they older, and that it is healthy for them to have at least one litter of kittens.
Neutering male cats prevents them from spraying to mark their territory and reduces fighting. This can also reduce the spread of feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), which is often spread through bites during fights.
Alice Potter, cat welfare expert at the RSPCA, said: “Caring for an unexpected litter of kittens is often costly and stressful and in extreme cases sees some owners cruelly dumping kittens on the roadside, in bins, or cardboard boxes - leaving the RSPCA and others to pick up the pieces.
“Fortunately, help is available through many local RSPCA branches and other charities to help cover the cost of neutering. But this is something all cat owners need to take very seriously.”
The RSPCA says that it neutered 3,218 cats at national centres and animal hospitals, with thousands more neutered at RSPCA branches.
This includes more than 50 feral cats neutered by the RSPCA’s Cheshire (Altrincham) Branch. The cats were neutered as part of ‘trap, neuter and release’ operation, meaning the cats continue to live the lifestyle they are used to.
Rory Cowlam, a TV vet and RSPCA ambassador, added: “It’s absolutely vital that cat owners get their pets neutered.
“Doing so helps keep the cat population down, stops unwanted litters who are at risk of suffering neglect and abuse, and also has other added benefits including keeping diseases such as the FIV virus at bay.”
Image © RSPCA
Defra has published guidance for the vet sector ahead of a proposed UK-EU Sanitary and Phytosanitary agreement.
