City facing abandoned pets epidemic, says charity

A city is facing an "epidemic" of cats and dogs being abandoned by their owners and taken into shelters, charities have warned.

Daphne Wilson, the chairwoman of Peterborough Cat Rescue, said the number of cats in need of homes was "chronic" and she called on people to "take full responsibility" if they buy a pet this Christmas.

The RSPCA said there were a rising number of cases of animals being abandoned in Cambridgeshire, as the charity faced a "rehoming crisis" with many of its shelters at capacity.

Some 264 incidents were recorded relating to an animal being abandoned in Cambridgeshire up to the end of October, the RSPCA added.

Ms Wilson said her small charity was at capacity and was facing a "huge financial burden" of £16,000-per-week vet bills.

"It's just chronic, really," she said. "[The problem] is a lot more than just Christmas, it's the whole year.

"We have to neuter, neuter, neuter. We can't sustain in this country the number of cats that are being born this year.

"I've been doing this for 40 years and people say this is the worst year for cats being born.

"We're facing an epidemic of cats and it's very sad."

Ms Wilson said many new pet owners do not get their pet spayed, which can lead to unplanned pregnancies.

"People can get a cat off Facebook. They get a kitten and they don't even consider what they are going to bring. It gets to four months, you let it out and it gets pregnant," she said.

She urged those considering buying a cat for Christmas to think about the ongoing cost of keeping a pet.

"Make sure you take total responsibility and you take them to the vets and get them neutered – stop them getting diseases.

"Save up, think about the money side of it. You need money in the bank that's disposable to look after your pets," she added.

The RSPCA said that animal neglect and abandonment have risen in the past year in Cambridgeshire.

The charity received 927 reports in the county about neglected animals in the first ten months of this year - a 21% rise compared to 768 in the same period last year.

From November 2024 to January, there were 64 cases of Cambridgeshire animal abandonment reported.

Lauren Bennett, a science and policy officer in the RSPCA's animal welfare charity's Companion Animals Department, urged those buying a dog for Christmas to not treat them as "fashion accessories".

"Adopt, don't shop; don't risk supporting unethical breeding; and don't risk bringing home a sick puppy with an extreme and unhealthy body shape this Christmas," she said.

"People looking to add a dog to their family should always consider giving one of our rescue dogs another chance at a happier life," she added.

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