Some of the rescued cats at the RSPCA Centre in Westbere

by Alex Claridge

RSPCA officers seized 18 cats from a travellers' site after a council tip-off that animals were being allowed to breed out of control.

They visited a home on the site near Aylesham and removed 18 cats - 15 of them kittens - after deciding the people living there were unable to care for them.

They were taken to the RSPCA’s Canterbury centre at Island Road in Westbere, where the charity is now looking to find homes for 77 cats.

Centre manager Clive Martin said: “We were called in after concerns from the council that these kittens had been allowed to breed and breed and breed in just 12 months.

RSPCA Centre,Island Road, Westbere, Clive Martin, centre manager

“The council didn’t know what to do and wanted our assistance as they needed to be removed as a matter of urgency.”

Among the cats removed were two mothers, although three unneutered males were left behind.

Mr Martin says cases like this are not rare, especially in densely populated places, and highlight the importance of neutering.

He said: “It has been worked out that one unneutered cat can produce 50 million cats in 10 years, especially as they reach sexual maturity in six to seven months.

“Every animal charity is bursting with cats at the moment, especially at this time of year, but it is a perpetual problem.

“We want to promote responsible pet ownership and the importance of pet owners having their animals neutered.”

For more information on neutering or to help re-home a cat call the centre on 01227 719113, visit www.rspca-canterbury.org.uk or email info@rspca-canterbury.org.uk.