Animal rescue centre workers have issued a cry for help after being inundated with nearly 500 cats.
The organisation is now full-to-bursting with an unprecedented 474 moggies.
Staff are struggling to cope after being flooded with cats and kittens, including one pregnant feline who gave birth to a litter of nine.
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Now staff have desperately appealed for help, as reported by Need To Know.
Emma Finnimore, cattery supervisor, at RSPCA Newbrook Farm Animal Centre and Hospital, Birmingham said: “We are absolutely full to capacity with cats at the moment.
“It feels like we’re facing a cat crisis with more cats coming in than we can find homes for – so we need people’s help.
“In particular, we have quite a lot of nursing cat mums and young kittens, who aren’t old enough for adoption yet, and so we are desperately looking for foster homes for them to help free up space in our cattery for other cats who can be rehomed.”
One cat, Tiger-Lily, gave birth to a huge litter of nine kittens names Madonna, Calla, Sierra, Anastasia, Stargazer, Martagon and Peace, and two boys called Soloman and Michigan.
Emma added: “This was the largest litter I’ve ever seen in my 25 years here.
“We try to place nursing queens into foster homes to prevent spaces being blocked for weeks until the kittens are old enough.
“Obviously these won’t be ready for adoption for another nine weeks so if we can place them in a foster home this allows us to free up the space and help more cats that need to come in.
“It’s best for the nursing queen and the kittens to be in a loving foster home too, receiving around the clock care and socialisation in a home environment.
“This will get them used to different people, men, women, children and the noises of a home like the TV, washing machine and vacuum cleaner.
“This has come at a particularly challenging time as very sadly we see a dip in rehoming during the summer holiday period as families are likely to be going away so it’s not the right time for them to bring a pet into their life.”
Emma issued an appeal to the people of Birmingham to consider fostering cats for the RSPCA if they can.
She added: “Fostering a pet is incredibly rewarding as you know that you have played a key part in helping a rescued animal recover and start their new life.
“You’ll get to meet and care for animals with unique personalities and see them rehomed to a new family thanks to your kindness and care.
“Fostering also gives people who would normally be unable to take in an animal long-term, due to other commitments, an alternative that might better suit their lifestyle.”
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