Supporters of an animal welfare charity are pleading with people who are dumping kittens in the Stevenage area to get in contact if they feel they can’t cope.

The Comet: Xiang was found in Benington in a box in a shed and is on the RSPCA's website for rehoming as his owner could not be found.Xiang was found in Benington in a box in a shed and is on the RSPCA's website for rehoming as his owner could not be found. (Image: Archant)

With many cats having litters at this time of year, the RSPCA is struggling to cope with the amount of animals it is trying to care for.

Herts East branch secretary Paula Wilson said: “If they can just get in contact with us we can try and help spay the mothers or neuter the males.

The Comet: Yasmin was found in Stevenage in a cardboard box.Yasmin was found in Stevenage in a cardboard box. (Image: Archant)

“Several of the cats we’re looking after were quite poorly with cat flu when the came to us and some of the kittens were only six weeks old, which is too young to be separated from their mothers.”

The charity is looking after five kittens who were abandoned in the town on just one day two weeks ago.

The Comet: Ziggy was found with Yasmin in Stevenage in a cardboard box.Ziggy was found with Yasmin in Stevenage in a cardboard box. (Image: Archant)

A six-week-old kitten was found abandoned in the town centre, two others were found dumped in a shed in Benington and the remaining two were dumped in cardboard box in Stevenage.

Paula said: “It is possible that people can’t cope and the cats keep getting out. A kitten can get pregnant at only 12 weeks old and people end up with so many kittens that they can’t cope and don’t know where to turn, so they end up dumping them.

“Some people also have litters and think they can give them away, but when they find they can’t feel they have no option.

“We want anyone who feels overwhelmed to get in contact with us.

“Lots of cats are having litters at this time of year and we’re overflowing – but we can still offer help.”

If people are on benefits or unemployed the charity will help to pay the cost of having the animals spayed or neutered and help with rehoming.

Another problem the charity wants to raise is that someone keeps on dumping cats outside Walton Lodge Veterinary Group in Maxwell Road.

This has been happening twice a year for the past three years and Paula believes that it is the same person dumping the animals.

She said: “At first they were in cardboard boxes and were healthy ,but recently they have been dumped in cat carries and have all had cat flu.

“We want the person or people who are doing this to get in touch with us and we can offer them help.”

The charity is looking for new homes for the five kittens found earlier this month – visit www.rspcahertseast.org.uk for more.

To find out more about the charity’s work call 01462 672278 or 07500 967145 between Monday and Friday from 9am to 6pm or 07533 483554 until 9.30pm every day.