Essex is the largest culprit of multi-animal abandonments in the East of England
RSPCA data says there were 168 "multi-animal incidents" in 2025
Essex is the biggest culprit of multi-animal abandonments in the East of England, according to RSPCA data.
In 2025, 168 "multi-animal incidents" were recorded in the county - which involved 10 or more animals.
This figure rose by 70 from 2024's amount, 98.
The RSPCA are urging people to consider re-homing and adopting a pet when considering taking on a new animal.
In March, the charity found 14 kittens abandoned in Essex. Three were fostered by staff, and 11 are in the care of their South Essex branch in Southend.
They have been called Espresso, Peppermint, Caramel, Cream, Brew, Mocha, Cappuccino, Matcha, Latte, Ice and Frappe.
Essex is the largest culprit of multi-animal abandonments by a significant margin over the rest of the East of England. The county has double the amount of incidents than the next-highest Suffolk.
Suffolk recorded 78 incidents in 2025, followed by Norfolk at 76, and Cambridgeshire at 65.
Adam Jones, Chief Inspector at the RSPCA, said the charity is dealing with "a lot of pressure" to rehome and house these animals, as figures have increased across the country year on year.
"It's really worrying, because sometimes when you don't have any space and you're full, you worry about what door you're going to knock on next, and if you walk in there and there's huge numbers of animals needing to come out, where are you going to be able to put them?"
He said there are many reasons for pets being abandoned:
"Ultimately it comes from people being overwhelmed and having too many. We've dealt with lots of reasons from mental health situations, the cost of living increase. I mean, since COVID came there was a lot more animals bred, there was a lot more homes that took on animal ownership and as people's lifestyles went back to normal, the quantity of animals didn't and they're still out there, they're being bred, they haven't all been neutered and those numbers are just going up, up and up.
"So it's kind of stemmed from that, which is obviously quite a long period of time, but has been seen by the statistics that there is a lot of animals there that have just not had their numbers kept under control. It's just people finding themselves out of their depth really.
"If their numbers are increasing, then to reach out, get help, reach other charities, contact ourselves. Speak to their vets about, neutering schemes and hopefully get to a point where they can keep control of the population before it gets too high."