Why the RSPCA Says Britain Has More Cats Needing Help Than It Can Rehome

The RSPCA says it is facing an unprecedented surge in unwanted, abandoned and stray cats, with so many felines needing help that its centres and partner spaces are under intense pressure. The charity says cats are now coming into its care faster than they can be rehomed, creating what it describes as a capacity crisis.

A record cat backlog is building

The scale of the problem is stark. Around 20,000 cats were taken into RSPCA care last year, and the charity believes that total will be surpassed this year.

Beth Clements, the RSPCA's assistant director of animal services, said the influx of cats and kittens is having a major effect on centres and branches. She said the charity is currently taking in an average of 624 cats each month across its 14 national centres and private boarding establishments. That figure does not include the additional numbers being taken in by the RSPCA's independent local branch network.

Hundreds of cats and kittens are being housed in the charity's national centres, while thousands more are staying in branches and private catteries as staff try to keep up with demand. Even with homes being found for almost 70 animals a day, the charity says the flow of cats needing help is outpacing the number that can be rehomed.

Clements also said the RSPCA now has more cats in its care than dogs, a sign of how sharply the balance has shifted.

Why so many cats are ending up in rescue

The charity says several pressures are feeding the rise. Mental health struggles, the cost of living crisis and poor breeding practices are all contributing to situations where large numbers of animals are kept in poor conditions.

Another major factor is the increase in big multi-cat rescues. Last year, the RSPCA was called to 1,780 incidents involving 10 or more cats at a single address. That works out at almost five such cases a day. The total was nearly 65 per cent higher than the year before and 218 per cent above the level seen in 2021.

Those 1,780 callouts involved more than 36,000 cats in total, underlining how often the charity is being asked to respond not just to one animal in trouble, but to large groups at once.

The RSPCA also links the current strain to pet ownership patterns that began during lockdown. Many households brought home animals at that time, but some later found they could not cope, leading to more abandonments.

The cases show how varied the crisis has become

Recent rescues illustrate the range and severity of the situations the charity is dealing with.

Last month, 26 cats and kittens were discovered in sealed plastic boxes and carriers beside fly-tipped rubbish in an alleyway in Birmingham. Many were struggling to breathe, and all were underweight and flea-ridden.

In April, the RSPCA and Metropolitan Police rescued 25 Scottish Fold cats with health issues from a caravan in south London.

Last December, Devon and Cornwall Police assisted the charity in rescuing more than 100 cats, along with a dog and a tortoise, from a three-bedroom house.

Against that backdrop, the RSPCA is appealing both for practical steps and for adopters. Clements said the charity is especially keen to find homes for adult cats that may be passed over in favour of kittens, as well as cats that need experienced and patient owners or slightly alternative homes to help them settle.

She also urged people to contact an animal charity if they, or someone they know, are struggling with the number of animals in a household, saying earlier action is better for both animals and people. The charity is also asking owners to make sure their cats are neutered. Clements noted that cats can breed from as young as 16 weeks, meaning unneutered kittens can quickly contribute to cat numbers spiralling.