The Number Of Cats Being Abandoned Is Soaring In The UK

The number of cats being abandoned in the UK has increased by over 30 percent in the past year. Cats Protection, an animal rescue organization, has noted a "deepening crisis" of people abandoning companion animals, partly due to the cost of living crisis and fallout from the Covid-19 pandemic. The charity is now helping around 500 cats a day, a 34 percent increase from before.

Lockdown spurred a surge in people buying animals as companions, but as workplaces reopened and the cost of living crisis worsened, abandonment rates soared. Animal rescues are struggling to cope with the influx of abandoned animals, leading to a call for spaying and neutering to prevent overpopulation. Animal rights organizations stress the importance of adopting from shelters rather than buying from breeders, as being a pet owner requires lifelong commitment and responsibility.