Cat charity 'overwhelmed' with abandoned pets

Peterborough Cat Rescue is rehoming about a 100 cats each month

A cat charity is holding a rehoming day after an "unprecedented" number of pets were handed in this year for the "silliest reasons".

Peterborough Cat Rescue (PCR), a small voluntary group, helps re-home stray and unwanted cats across the city.

The organisation said it was receiving a lot of "abandoned" pets, including some dumped by the road in a cage, with at least a 100 rehomed each month.

It called for owners to act responsibly and get their pet neutered.

The charity has been "overwhelmed" with abandoned cats - some even left by the roadside in cages

Daphne Wilson, PCR chairwoman, currently has 17 cats at home, including six of her own.

But she said the charity, with nearly 30 volunteers, was struggling to cope with the demand, after racking up £12,000 in vet fees over the past three months.

Ms Wilson said: "We had an unprecedented number of kittens this year.

"We understand the cost of living has impacted people, but we are also aware people are giving them up for the silliest reasons. They'd rather keep their mobile contract than the cat.

"But they are being irresponsible by not getting the cats neutered and that's why we are left with such high numbers of kittens."

A rehoming day is being held on Saturday at Bedford Hall in Thorney, Peterborough.

The charity hopes to have a positive day with lots of "unloved" cats finding new families.