RSPCA facing capacity crisis as unwanted and homeless cats hit all-time high

Charity sees sharp rise in large-scale rescues and urges owners to neuter pets

By LineZotpaper

Published20 October 2026

Read Time3 min

The RSPCA says it has been plunged into a crisis of unwanted cats, with numbers of homeless felines reaching unprecedented levels and more cats arriving into its care than can be rehomed. Charity chiefs are urging owners to neuter their pets after a sharp rise in large-scale rescues added to the strain on centres and staff.

The RSPCA says the number of abandoned and stray cats has reached unprecedented levels, and rising cases of cruelty and neglect are adding to the pressure on its centres. Last year the charity was called to 1,780 cases involving 10 or more cats at a single address, almost five every day. That was an increase of nearly 65 per cent on the year before and a jump of 218 per cent since 2021, involving more than 36,000 cats in total.

Around 20,000 cats were taken into RSPCA care last year, and the charity believes that figure will be exceeded this year. Hundreds of cats and kittens are in its national centres, with thousands more in branches and private catteries, despite the charity finding homes for almost 70 animals a day.

Beth Clements, RSPCA assistant director of animal services, said the huge influx was having a massive impact. "So far this year we're taking in an average of 624 cats each month across our 14 national centres and private boarding establishments. That's not including the massive numbers our independent local branch network are taking in, too." She said the charity now has more cats in its care than dogs.

The charity blamed mental-health struggles, the cost-of-living crisis and breeders with poor practices for households where large numbers of animals are kept in poor conditions. Recent rescues include 26 cats and kittens found in sealed plastic boxes and carriers dumped beside flytipped rubbish in a Birmingham alleyway last month, 25 Scottish Fold cats with health issues rescued from a south London caravan in April, and more than 100 cats, a dog and a tortoise saved from a three-bedroom house in Devon last December.

Ms Clements said the charity was especially keen to find homes for adult cats overlooked in favour of kittens, and encouraged people struggling with the numbers of animals in their household to contact an animal charity early. "We're also urging people to make sure their cats are neutered. Cats can breed from as young as 16 weeks, so unneutered kittens can quickly see cat populations spiral." During lockdown, many households acquired pets but later found they could not cope, leading to a surge in abandonments.

Analysis

Why This Matters

The RSPCA's capacity crisis means thousands of cats and kittens need homes, and staff cannot keep up with arrivals.
A growing number of large-scale rescues of 10 or more cats at a single address adds pressure on animal welfare services.
The charity warns that unneutered cats can breed from 16 weeks, so the problem could keep escalating without owner action.

Background

The RSPCA is one of the UK's oldest and largest animal welfare charities, running national centres alongside a network of independent local branches. The charity says a combination of pressures, including the cost-of-living crisis, mental-health struggles and poor breeding practices, has led to households keeping large numbers of animals in poor conditions. During lockdown, many people acquired pets but later found they could not cope, contributing to a surge in abandonments.

Key Perspectives

RSPCA: The charity says it is taking in more cats than it can rehome, with an average of 624 cats admitted each month across its national centres and private boarding establishments, not counting independent branches. It is making a particular appeal for adult cats that may be overlooked in favour of kittens. Pet owners and households: The charity attributes the problem partly to owners struggling with the cost of living and mental-health pressures, as well as people who took on pets during lockdown and later could not cope. It urges anyone struggling with animal numbers to contact a charity as soon as possible. Animal welfare advocates: Ms Clements stresses the importance of neutering, noting that cats can breed from as young as 16 weeks and that unneutered kittens can quickly cause populations to spiral.

What to Watch

Whether the number of cats taken into RSPCA care this year exceeds last year's 20,000.
Whether the monthly average intake of 624 cats across national centres and boarding establishments keeps rising.
Whether large-scale rescue cases, such as last year's 1,780 involving 10 or more cats at a single address, continue to increase.

Sources

RSPCA struggling with capacity crisis as number of unwanted and homeless cats hits all-time high · The Independent UK

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 12 supported.

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SupportedThe RSPCA is facing a capacity crisis as unwanted and homeless cats reach an all-time high.The Independent UK: “RSPCA struggling with capacity crisis as number of unwanted and homeless cats hits all-time high.”
SupportedCats needing help are arriving into RSPCA care faster than they can be rehomed.The Independent UK: “Altogether, cats needing help are arriving more quickly into its care than they can be rehomed, causing a capacity crisis, charity chiefs say.”
SupportedThe charity says a sharp rise in large-scale rescues is adding pressure and prompting owners to neuter their pets.The Independent UK: “A spike in large-scale cat rescues is intensifying the pressure, prompting charity chiefs to beg owners to have their pets neutered.”
SupportedClements said the RSPCA takes in an average of 624 cats a month across its 14 national centres and private boarding establishments.The Independent UK: ““So far this year we’re taking in an average of 624 cats each month across our 14 national centres and private boarding establishments.”
SupportedClements said cats can breed from 16 weeks and urged owners to neuter them.The Independent UK: ““We’re also urging people to make sure their cats are neutered. Cats can breed from as young as 16 weeks, so unneutered kittens can quickly see cat populations spiral,” Ms Clements said.”
SupportedLast year, the RSPCA was called to 1,780 cases involving 10 or more cats at one address.The Independent UK: “Last year, the charity was called to 1,780 cases involving 10 or more cats at a single address – almost five every day.”
SupportedThose cases were up nearly 65 per cent on the previous year and 218 per cent since 2021.The Independent UK: “It was an increase of nearly 65 per cent on the year before and a jump of 218 per cent since 2021.”
SupportedThe cases involved more than 36,000 cats in total.The Independent UK: “These cases involved more than 36,000 cats in total.”
SupportedAround 20,000 cats entered RSPCA care last year, and the charity believes the figure will be exceeded this year.The Independent UK: “Around 20,000 cats were taken into RSPCA care last year, and the charity believes that figure will be exceeded this year.”
SupportedThe RSPCA has hundreds of cats and kittens in national centres and thousands more in branches and private catteries, while finding homes for almost 70 animals a day.The Independent UK: “Hundreds of cats and kittens have places in the charity’s national centres, and thousands more are in branches and private catteries as staff struggle to find space to care for the increasing numbers, despite finding homes for almost 70 animals a day.”
SupportedClements said the RSPCA now has more cats in its care than dogs.The Independent UK: “She said the charity now has more cats in its care than dogs.”
SupportedLast month, 26 cats and kittens were found in sealed boxes and carriers dumped beside flytipped rubbish in a Birmingham alleyway.The Independent UK: “Last month, 26 cats and kittens were found in sealed plastic boxes and carriers, dumped beside flytipped rubbish in a Birmingham alleyway.”