The Worcester branch of the RSPCA is facing the devastating dilemma of closing their doors to cats until some of the moggies currently in their care are found new homes.

The branch are at present looking after 22 cats and 20 kittens all of which are healthy and waiting to be rehomed.

Pam Booker, secretary of the Worcester and Mid Worcestershire branch of the RSPCA said the problem was causing much anxiety for the organisation.

She said: "We are having a crisis with cats at the moment and as a result we are not able to take any more cats in. This is a horrible position to be in as we don't like to turn away any animal but we simply do not have anywhere else for cats to go. We have cats in boarding, with fosterers and even at vets."

"All of our kittens and cats are health checked and are ready to go so we hope locals wanting to give a home to a cat will think of us. Our branch area covers a large patch. We go as far as Bromsgrove and Redditch which is something I believe local people are not aware of. We take in cats from these towns but we don't rehome much to these areas which I think is due to people not realising we are their local RSPCA branch."

She also wants to stress that anyone that loses a cat in Bromsgrove and Redditch should contact the Worcester branch to check if the cat has been found and is now in RSPCA care.

The branch is also looking for homes for dogs and lots of small animals such as rabbits, guinea pigs, gerbils and mice.

Anyone wanting to offer a home to a cat can contact the branch on 01905 841 354 or have a look on the branch website : www.rspca-worcester.co.uk