New figures released by the RSPCA have revealed that 105 cats were deliberately mistreated in Cumbria in 2021.
The animal welfare charity said reports of mistreatment – including abandonments, poisonings, mutilations, shootings, beatings and neglect – revealed that nationally, seven cats a day suffered at the hands of humans.
The RSPCA also fears that new figures showing a recent boom in the kitten trade could see a worrying rise in unscrupulous breeders putting profits before welfare and could spell further cruelty to cats.
In the last five years, there were 825 reports made to Trading Standards across England and Wales involving kitten-related complaints. Compared with 2017 figures, there was a 185 per cent increase in 2021 regarding the buying and selling of kittens, the RSPCA said.
Sam Watson, cat welfare expert at the RSPCA, said: “It’s awful to think cats are suffering deliberate cruelty and to know that an average of seven cats every single day are suffering at the hands of humans is really distressing. Cats are one of the most popular pets in the UK with an estimated 10.5 million pet cats in UK homes but sadly they are the second most abused pet – after dogs.
“Tragically, we see hundreds of animals that come through our doors every year who have been subjected to unimaginable cruelty – being beaten, thrown across the room, had bones broken, been shot at, poisoned and drowned.
“As well as being hurt by their owners, cats are also more vulnerable as they tend to be out and about on their own which can leave them vulnerable to airgun attacks and other forms of cruelty by complete strangers.”
The RSPCA has launched its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign which aims to raise funds to keep its rescue teams on the frontline saving animals as well as raising awareness about how everyone can work together to stamp out cruelty for good.
