The animal welfare charity has seen a 166% increase in searches for cats on its website
The RSPCA has seen a huge surge in searches for cats as new figures show that on average the charity rehomes two cats every hour.
There was a 166% increase in searches for cats on the RSPCA’s FindAPet website following the first year of the pandemic (March 2020 number 114,316 compared to Jan 2021 number 304,300.)
Last year the charity rehomed 17,868 cats which is 53 a day or two cats rehomed every hour. In West Yorkshire there were 461 cats rehomed in 2020.
Centres and branches are also caring for more cats than any pet with nearly 3,000 moggies coming into the RSPCA’s care from the start of the year (Jan 1- 31 Aug).
This month marks Adoptober, when the RSPCA shines a light on the animals in its care looking for homes, and with more cats coming into the charity’s care than any other pet this means there are plenty of feline friends looking to be adopted.
Sam Gaines, head of the RSPCA’s companion animals team, said: “It’s great to see so many people are interested in adopting cats from the RSPCA. The lockdown has really shone a light on the close bonds we have with our pets and for many people, their pets have become a real source of comfort during these challenging times.
“We’ve seen a huge surge in pet ownership during the past year or so and whilst it’s positive that so many people want to take on a pet we are keen to highlight the importance of doing your research to ensure you’ve got the time, patience and money to care for that animal for the rest of their life.
“Our centres and branches are seeing lots of cats coming into their care at the moment. This could be due to the end of the kitten season when most cats are born or more worryingly, it could be as a result of people buying cats on impulse earlier in the year who are now struggling to cope with them.
“However, we’d urge anyone who has thoroughly done their research and is keen to take on a rescue cat to consider adopting from the RSPCA.”
Cats looking for homes in West Yorkshire include:
Misty
This 8 year-old cuddly female cat would enjoy sitting on someone’s lap and purring away the day once she gets to know you. She is currently in the care of the RSPCA Leeds, Wakefield and district branch and was a bit shy at first.
But now staff have worked with her and they are confident it won’t take long for a family to make her feel comfortable and happy and be nudging them for attention and a stroke. She is very gentle in nature with plenty of charm in the day – then at night she likes to play!
More information about Misty is available here
Kit Kat
Meet pretty little Kit Kat – a 3 year-old feline who is looking for a new home. She is currently in the care of RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield and Bradford RSPCA. Kit Kat needs time to settle into a new environment, but once she has and is comfortable, she is a cheeky cat who is extremely affectionate.
Kit Kat loves to be fussed, and would happily have staff sit all day stroking her and giving her all their attention!
She loves to curl up in her big soft bed, and prefers lots of attention over playtime.
Kit Kat would be a loving addition to most families, she could live with cat savvy children, who are able to give her the space and time she needs to settle in. Kit Kat would be happiest in a home where there is someone around most of the day, as she loves company. Once settled, Kit Kat would like the opportunity to go out and explore the outside world, so will need a home away from busy roads and railway lines to do this safely.
More information about Kit Kat can be found here
Sam added: “We believe neutering cats from four months old will reduce the amount of unwanted and unexpected litters of kittens that are born and sadly end up in rescue centres. We understand that many owners may not have been able to get their pets neutered as understandably vets had to prioritise emergencies in the face of Covid-19. However, we would urge anyone with an unneutered female cat to get them neutered as soon as they can and keep them indoors until they have been spayed.”
To help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming animals in desperate need of care please visit our website or call our donation line on 0300 123 8181.
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