Cat crisis deepens as RSPCA Cymru urges owners to neuter their pets
RSPCA Cymru is urging cat owners to neuter their pets as more and more felines enter into the charity’s care
RSPCA Cymru is urging cat owners to neuter their pets as more and more felines enter into the charity’s care.
In Wales, the charity’s two national animal centres are currently caring for 29 cats - with Newport Animal Centre soon to be at capacity, and Bryn-Y-Maen caring for 23 felines with more on the way.
Across England and Wales more than 1,400 cats were in national RSPCA care at the end of December 2025 - including with fosterers and in private boarding facilities.
That’s a 72% rise from the 832 cats that were with the charity four years ago (December 2021). Across the wider RSPCA network - made up of 133 separate registered charities - there are at least 2,300 cats currently in care.
The charity says 'worryingly, the surge is happening outside the traditional “kitten season” in summer'. December saw a 30% increase in cats in care compared to the previous year (December 2024), 'an unprecedented rise for this time of year'.
Alice Potter, cat welfare expert at the RSPCA, said: “The rising numbers of cats and kittens coming into our care is heartbreaking - and especially worrying in the winter months. Many are dumped or are kittens born in unsafe situations as part of a feral group.
“But owners can really do their bit to help with the capacity and welfare crisis. Cat owners who neuter their cats help stem this surge in unwanted pets"
“There is a misconception that cats can only become pregnant when they are older or that it’s healthy for them to have at least one litter of kittens but this isn’t the case - cats can become pregnant as young as four months of age, so neutering at this age is crucial. Neutering male cats can stop them spraying to mark territory, and from getting injuries while fighting. Neutered cats are also less likely to wander as far. Having them snipped can also stop cats from spreading the FIV Virus - which is spread through cat bites, often between male cats fighting over a mate.
“Caring for an unexpected litter of kittens is often costly and stressful and in extreme cases sees some owners cruelly dumping kittens on the roadside, in bins, or cardboard boxes - leaving the RSPCA and others to pick up the pieces.
“Fortunately, help is available through many local RSPCA branches and other charities to help cover the cost of neutering. But this is something all cat owners need to take very seriously.”
The RSPCA neutered 3,218 cats at national centres and animal hospitals across England and Wales last year. Thousands more were neutered by RSPCA branches.