Pictured: Adorable cats looking for a home as Shropshire residents urged to consider adoption

A Shropshire animal rescue centre has taken in 65 cats this year alone, as the RSPCA warns of a “cat crisis” due to the number of moggies needing a new home.

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The animal charity has teamed up with official vet partner Inspiring Vet Care during a month-long Adoptober campaign, as RSPCA staff face mounting pressure to care for an ever-growing number of felines - and to find enough space for animals in need.

At Gonsal Farm Animal Centre in Dorrington, south of Shrewsbury, staff have already taken in 65 cats this year.

The RSPCA currently has hundreds of cats and kittens in its national centres alone, with thousands more in branches and private boarding establishments as staff struggle to find space to care for the increasing numbers.

With cats arriving faster than they can be rehomed, the RSPCA is urgently appealing for adopters and fosterers to give cats of all ages the chance of a loving home.

Alice Batchelor-Reynolds, cattery supervisor, said: “We’ve seen a huge influx of cats and kittens at Gonsal Farm. Sadly it just isn’t slowing down - and it’s having a massive impact not just on us in Shropshire but across England and Wales.

“So far this year we’re taking in an average of six to seven cats each month, and we’re running out of space. It is usually one in, one out too, with other cats in need going to our dedicated fosterers and emergency boarding.

“Cat breeding season has been in full swing, we’ve seen a big increase in large-scale cat rescues and adoptions typically slow down over summer months - which has left us in a difficult situation as we head into autumn and winter and prepare for an influx of animals rescued from neglect. There are simply more cats and kittens coming into our care than we have the space for.

“We’re desperate for adopters and fosterers to come forward to help free up space in our centres - this means we can help more cats rescued from cruelty and neglect, but also a cattery is not the ideal environment for cats and kittens and they can find it stressful, so getting them into a loving home as soon as we can is so much better for their overall welfare.”

Richard Hooker, country medical director for inspiring vet care, said: “The number of unwanted and stray cats has reached unprecedented levels, making it even more important to ensure cats are neutered to prevent unwanted litters of kittens putting even more pressure on charities.”

Jo Rowland, RSPCA chief executive, added: “We currently have more animals in our care than space in our centres and branches - and it’s a heart-breaking situation that other animal charities and rescue centres are also facing.

“That’s why we are asking people with space in their home for a pet to consider adopting. Not only does it free up vital space so we can rescue more animals in need, but it’s so much better for the animals to be out of kennels and in a loving home.

“We really need help from animal lovers. If you are considering adding a pet to your home, please consider rescuing - and if you can’t adopt, could you consider fostering? We are working to increase our number of foster carers, as well as modernising our rehoming process, to try and get animals into loving homes sooner.

“We need extra special homes for some of our animals and we’re so grateful to anyone who can support our Adoptober campaign - be it through adopting or fostering, or sharing profiles of animals who need new homes.”

More details on cat adoption can be found at https://www.rspca.org.uk/findapet.