Charity reeling with unwanted kittens boom

Blue Cross is calling on cat owners to neuter their pets to avoid the hundreds of unplanned litters of kittens needing the charity’s care.

The charity is facing a hidden pet welfare crisis due to the ongoing cost of living crisis and is concerned that pet owners are not neutering their pet to avoid vet fees.

There are also concerns that owners may be deliberately breeding their cat to sell the kittens, but a lack of buyers leads to them being brought into rescue or simply abandoned to fend for themselves.

Kellie Brooks, Centre Manager at Blue Cross in Hertfordshire said: “I have worked in pet rescue for over 20 years and I have never seen kittens coming in for help on a scale like this.

"Almost every week we are being brought boxes and carrier bags filled with kittens that have been discovered by members of the public.

"Some are incredibly young and need round the clock care to give them the best chance of survival.

"This is in addition to the many unplanned and unwanted litters being brought in as well as pregnant cats.”

Blue Cross animal rehoming centres across the UK have taken in 15%* more kittens this year compared to 2025 and with the summer being peak time for cats to have kittens the charity fears worse is yet to come.

Blue Cross in Sheffield is looking for homes for 14-week-old kittens Merida, Mulan, Aurora and Eugene. They were an unplanned litter that the owner could not look after.

Jimmy, Jack and Joe were abandoned in a box at the Blue Cross Hertfordshire centre. Thought to be just six-weeks-old when found, they have all now settled into loving homes.

There are many more kittens, cats and other pets in the care of Blue Cross, desperately needing a home.

To see them and find out how to rehome a pet from Blue Cross visit Rehome a Blue Cross pet

With the increasing pressures faced by pets and pet owners, we are facing a hidden pet welfare crisis and Blue Cross needs the support of animal lovers to continue its work helping pets and their people, in any way they can.

Whether that’s by donating to keep rehoming and veterinary services going through these tough times, fundraising for Blue Cross, providing foster care for pets while loving new homes are found, volunteering at pet food banks, or signing up to support Blue Cross campaigns for better pet welfare. www.bluecross.org.uk