RSPCA reveals seven cats suffer daily at the hands of humans

The charity has received more than 16,000 incidents of deliberate cruelty to cats in the past six years

The RSPCA has released new figures revealing that seven cats per day suffer at the hands of humans and this is expected to increase during the summer months.

Over the past six years (2016-2021), there has been 16,212 Incidents of intentional cat violence have been reported to the animal welfare charity which equates to a staggering seven cats per day at the hands of humans. In 2021 alone, there were 1,387 reports of intentional harm to cats, with this peaking during July and August. *

Overall, there were 17,804 complaints made to the charity about cats in 2021 of abandonment, poisoning, mutilation, shooting, beating, and neglect.

The RSPCA also fears that new figures showing the recent boom in the cat trade could see a worrying rise in unscrupulous breeders who put profits before luxury and could lead to more cruelty to cats.

In the past five years there have been 825 reports submitted to Trade Standards, the council officials who enforce consumer protection laws, across England and Wales containing complaints related to cats. Compared to 2017 figures, there was an 185% increase in 2021 regarding the purchase and sale of cats**.

David Bowles, head of public affairs at the RSPCA, said: “Demand for pets has skyrocketed during the pandemic, which means backstreet cat breeders have been able to make more money skinning pets online. We usually see a spike in the sale of kittens in this. The time of year plus the cost-of-living crisis, unfortunately we may see a boom in the cat trade this year as a result.If you are considering buying a cat, we urge people to use Kitten Checklist. “

To help prevent suffering, the RSPCA launched its program abolition of cruelty Which aims to raise money to keep rescue teams on the front lines of saving animals in dire need as well as raise awareness about how we can work together to eradicate cruelty for good.

Sam Watson, RSPCA cat care expert, said: “It is shocking to think that cats suffer willful cruelty and to know that an average of seven cats every day suffer at the hands of humans is really sad. Cats are one of the most popular pets in the kingdom. UK with an estimated 11 million pet cats in UK homes, but unfortunately they are the second most abused pet – after dogs.

“Tragically, we see hundreds of animals entering our doors every year and subjected to unimaginable cruelty – being beaten, tossed across a room, broken bones, shot, poisoned, and drowned.

“In addition to being hurt by their owners, cats are also more vulnerable because they tend to go out on their own which can make them vulnerable to air gun attacks and other forms of cruelty by complete strangers.”

A much-loved cat has been set ablaze in Hampshire

An RSPCA inspector described her horror and annoyance after being called to pick up a cat believed to have been set on fire.

The deeply charred remains of the pet were found by an elderly woman driving along Killen Road in Sherborne St John, Basingstoke.

The intense heat from the fire melted the surface of the road where the animal’s carcass was discovered.

Unfortunately, investigations revealed that a male cat named Chris, a very lovable pet, had been deliberately set on fire.

It is not known if the cat was actually dead before it was set on fire, but the charity is continuing to investigate.

A pet cat was found cruelly hanged by a clothesline in Manchester

The body of a 10-year-old black and white cat, named Jack (pictured), was found from the property’s back garden after it was found tied to a tree branch by a clothesline.

The rope was wrapped around his neck three times before being knotted – indicating that the attack was a deliberate act of cruelty.

Its distraught owner, Tracy McCormick, believes the shy rescue cat was captured by the culprit because it was usually shy in the company of strangers.

The RSPCA launched an investigation after his body was found in the garden of a house on Northcote Street in Wythenshawe on Tuesday, June 21.

A kitten has been abandoned in a box with a broken leg that needs amputation

Fortunately, a member of the public spotted the kitten and the white cat, now called Maggie, hiding under conifers in a field in Doncaster, South Yorkshire, in January, and contacted RSPCA who came to save her.

she was She suffered a serious injury to her hind leg, which left her bone protruding and wound infection.

Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Kate Hurrington rescued the cat and took it for urgent veterinary treatment but unfortunately her hind left leg was not rescued and the person responsible was not found. It has since been moved by the RSPCA.

Two cats were killed and one sustained life-changing injuries after being shot with an air rifle in Pembrokeshire

Jemima, a 2-year-old kitten, may not fully regain her mobility after she was targeted near her home in the Plas y Fron area of ​​Fishguard. The granule, which went just below her neck, was to rest between her shoulder blades and only millimeters from her spine – and was deemed too risky to remove.

Another cat the night before on a nearby street, Dan y Bryn, was shot and taken to a vet, where an X-ray revealed she had been hit twice with an air gun. She broke her leg – she had to be amputated – and her shoulder was smashed. Although initially good progress, she took a turn for the worse and unfortunately had to fall asleep after a few days. A third accident occurred seven miles away in Newport at the beginning of the month, in which a vet confirmed that a cat’s fatal injuries were caused by an air rifle.

There were nearly 500 reports of air rifles being fired on animals in 2021, and the charity is calling for tougher regulations and better education for anyone looking to buy an air rifle to help prevent this from happening.

Two jiggly drops were rescued after they were found lying dead behind a trash can

The kittens were lucky to survive their ordeal when they were found abandoned like a litter on Rosalind Street, Ashington, in March.

One of the cats, a male slave, was found collapsed and so underweight that a veterinary surgeon struggled to insert an intravenous catheter into his veins. The other, a black and white cat, was also emaciated and lethargic, and had a wound on her neck.

Both cats were taken for emergency treatment by RSPCA Inspector Rachael Hurst and taken into the care of the RSPCA Northumberland West Branch, who were dubbed by the staff as Barney and Matilda and stated that they had made significant progress in regaining their health and strength. The spinster in the photo above, after being found (left) and after treatment (right).

“Both kittens would have died if they had not been taken. They were both hungry and there was absolutely no weight on them,” Rachel said. Both have since been taken home.

Two kittens have suffered multiple broken bones after sustaining blunt trauma at the hands of their owner

Smudge and Bean, a pair of seven-month-old kittens, were rescued by the RSPCA after being taken to vets with serious injuries over a period of months and vets beginning to suspect the injuries were non-accidental.

The poor woman suffered numerous rib fractures of different ages, a broken dog and a fracture of her right femur. She had an obvious limp and was struggling to move at all.

Her brother Bean has also suffered similar injuries and has previously been shown the Blue Cross with head trauma, a broken tail, a broken left hind thigh, three ribs, and a possible dislocated jaw. Fortunately they were rescued by the RSPCA, rehabilitated and resettled.

The RSPCA typically receives about 84,000 calls to the Cruelty Line each month and about 1,500 of them are about intentional cruelty. But the charity is seeing a summer spike of about 400 calls, on average, per month, which is roughly the equivalent of 50 extra calls every day or Two every hour.

RSPCA rescue teams need support to stay on the front lines as the only animal rescue and cruelty investigation charity.

• £2 can help provide a meal for a cat or dog in our care
• £6 to feed a dog for a day can help in our care
• £10 can help pay for a cat or dog bandages
• £15 can help pay for the clinical examination fee of a cat or dog
• £20 can help pay for a hunting kit
• £30 can help pay for an inspector’s life jacket
• £100 can help pay for water saving equipment
• 500 pounds can equip 4×4 . inspection truck

Our frontline teams are working hard to save animals in need this summer but we can’t do it alone – we need your help abolition of cruelty. To help support the RSPCA, visit: www.rspca.org.uk/stopcruelty

If you can’t donate, there are other ways you can help abolish cruelty, from Volunteering with the RSPCAcontract for the sale of baked goods or fundraising, or participation in # 50MilesForAnimals a challenge.