New figures reveal that there were 83 cat cruelty complaints made to the RSPCA in Cumbria last year.
The animal welfare charity has released the figures as it launches its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign to raise funds to help its frontline rescue teams.
It said nationally, cruelty peaked in the summer with three reports made every single minute.
Rob Melloy, RSPCA chief inspector for Cumbria, said: “Right now, animal cruelty is happening in England and Wales on a massive scale and rising. It is heartbreaking that we are seeing such sad figures which show animal cruelty is, very sadly, on the rise.
“While we don’t know for certain why there has been an increase, the cost of living crisis and the post-pandemic world we live in has created an animal welfare crisis.
“Each year, these reports reach its terrible annual peak in the summer months. The cost-of-living crisis also means the cost of rescuing animals is at an all-time high and our vital services are stretched to the limit.”
