A REHOMING charity says it is facing a “cat crisis” and has been forced to stop taking in abandoned felines because so many have come into its care.

The Worcester and Mid-Worcestershire branch of the RSPCA currently has 37 cats in its care, meaning it is full to capacity.

The branch currently uses a private cattery but is hoping to care for cats, dogs, rabbits and other rodents in a new home at Broomhall, near Worcester, should a further half a million pounds’ fund-raising be collected.

“The situation is absolutely dire with the cats at the moment. We have a real cat crisis,” said branch trustee Geraldine Haynes.

“We’ve taken in 103 cats so far this year alone. We’re choc-a-bloc.”

And she said that the rise in admissions at the charity could be down to people not knowing how to care for their animals properly.

“I think it’s down to people not getting them neutered or spayed,” she said.

“Also, a lot of cats that we get have been involved in road traffic accidents. The owners are not coming forward and then we have to pay the vet bills.”

The branch has permission to move onto the five-acre site but is only halfway through its £1 million fund raising target.

The group receives no funding from the national RSPCA charity so must find its own way of paying for the venture, on top of its £180,000-a-year operation.

The branch currently uses private boarding but Mrs Haynes says the new home would enable the branch to help “more animals more quickly”.

She said work on the car park should begin in the next month and hopes funding will pour in for the rest of the site.

She added that the centre will not be built in one go with, for instance, a handful of kennels opening to start with.

As well as donations, the group is looking for companies to help with building materials and individuals to lend a hand.

Anyone who wants to give money can visit rspca-worcester.co.uk. People can also write to them at 12 Sansome Place, Worcester, WR1 1UA, or call 01905 20822.