The RSPCA is urging people to consider adopting a rescue cat, amid an all-time high in numbers of moggies in the charity’s care.

The animal welfare charity has warned of a “cat crisis” and has teamed up with official vet partner inspiring vet care during a month they have dubbed Adoptober, a special drive to find loving new homes for pets in its care.

RSPCA staff are facing mounting pressure to care for an ever-growing number of felines – and to find enough space for animals in need.

Now, the RSPCA has more cats in its care than dogs – as rising numbers of multi-cat rescues and pets saved from neglect and cruelty put its centres and branches under increasing strain. Last year, around 20,000 cats were taken into RSPCA care – and the charity fears that figure will be exceeded this year.

The charity 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.

Recently three kittens were dumped in a crate in a church car park in Birmingham, West Midlands – they were extremely frightened, underweight and riddled with fleas. They also had gunky eyes and snuffly noses, and were later found to be suffering from cat flu.

They are now being cared for at the RSPCA’s Newbrook Farm Animal Hospital, and will be rehomed once they’ve recovered. The RSPCA is still appealing for information on how they came to be abandoned.

And last month, 26 cats and kittens were found in sealed plastic boxes and carriers, dumped beside flytipped rubbish in a Birmingham alleyway. Many of them were struggling to breathe in the boxes, and they were all underweight with significant flea burden.

They are all now recovering in RSPCA care and will be rehomed when ready.

But sadly, these are just two of many cases of cats being rescued from neglect or cruelty across the country – and 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.

Beth Clements, RSPCA Assistant Director of Animal Services, said: “We’ve seen a huge influx of cats and kittens. Sadly it just isn’t slowing down – and it’s having a massive impact on our centres and branches.

“So far this year we’re taking in an average of 624 cats each month across our 14 national centres and private boarding establishments – that’s not including the massive numbers our independent local branch network are taking in too.

“In January we had a similar number of cats and dogs in our care – but cat numbers have significantly increased throughout the year. Now we have more cats in our care than dogs.

“We’re especially keen to find homes for adult cats who may have been overlooked in favour of kittens, as well as those who need experienced, patient owners or slightly alternative homes to help them settle into a new life.

“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.”