Cat crisis call-outs highest in country

A LITTER of cats in a bad way due to a ringworm infection was cared for by Oldham Cats Rescue

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THE NUMBER of abandoned and neglected cats in Oldham has reached an all-time high.

More cat-related emergency calls were made in the borough than in any other part of England in 2015, new research found.

Hundreds of reports were made to the RSPCA and the sad state of affairs is mirrored at rescue centres across the area, who are now calling for cats to be neutered and micro-chipped.

Cats have been dumped outside rescue centres in boxes and plastic bags, but some centres are full and have to turn cats away.

RSPCA veterinary director Caroline Allen said many of the injured or neglected cats brought in by inspectors were strays.

She said: "Our figures show that Oldham is the area with the highest concentration of cat-related incidents per person.

"Sadly, we will never truly know why there is such a big issue here.

"Particularly in the summer, animal charities are inundated with kittens. Many have been born in a shed to a cat that has not been neutered.

"Sadly, others can be deliberately dumped by owners who did not expect their cats to give birth."

The RSPCA had 501 emergency call-outs in Oldham per 100,000 population. Manchester received the fourth most calls.

Some 473 calls were made from Bradford and 416 in Manchester, with Birmingham, Nottingham and Leicester also receiving a high quantity.

Figures were released in a report by the cat population control group (CPCG), which comprises the RSPCA and eight other animal charities.

Ms Allen said rescue centres were struggling to keep up and some had resorted to using "costly private boarding."

Deputy manager of Oldham Cats Rescue Davina Hanes said: "The crisis of abandoned cats seems to have hit an all-time high and volunteers are saddened when we have to turn so many cats away due to the fact that our cages are at full capacity.

"We have, on numerous occasions, had cats left at our gates, in taped-up boxes or tied in bags."

The Middleton centre takes in around 450 cats per year.

Mrs Hanes said: "I must stress the absolute importance of getting cats neutered, irrespective of age, and it is crucial that all cats are micro-chipped. We have hit such a crisis it really should be mandatory."

The RSPCA took in 18,928 cats nationally between January 1 and October 1 this year.

Jane Clements of the CPCG, said: "There are simply more cats than people to care for them."