RSPCA faces tough Christmas with 3,500 animals and record cat numbers in care

RSPCA teams are preparing to care for more than 3,500 animals this Christmas including a record 1,500 cats.

It has been an incredibly challenging year for the welfare charity with growing cruelty, neglect and abandonment resulting in record numbers of animals in RSPCA care.

This Christmas the charity expects to be caring for 1,000 dogs, more than 1,500 cats, some 400 horses and over 100 rabbits as well as other animals such as small furries and farm animals.

And it will cost more than £56,000 to run the centres and hospitals on Christmas Day alone and more than  £1.5 million pounds to keep them running throughout December .

2025 has been one of the most challenging on record for the RSPCA - reports of animals being abandoned have sky-rocketed with incidents reported  rising by more than 23- per cent in the first ten months of the year*.

Paula Flitney, Manager at Blackberry Farm Animal Centre in Aylesbury said: "Christmas is going to be tough not only at our centre but all RSPCA establishments and the animal welfare sector as a whole.  We are all full with rescued animals who need us.

"It's been such a challenging year with an epidemic of animal abandonment and neglect meaning the RSPCA is needed now more than ever to help these animals in the most urgent need of help.

"While we always make Christmas as special as we can for our animals - with special treats, presents and of course lots of love and attention - what we really want them to have is a home to call their own. If you ask anyone who works in rescue what is on their Christmas wishlist - finding homes for these wonderful animals is always at the top."

Which is why it is vital we find homes as soon as we can for those who are ready to go on to find their forever family.

Animals like Pilchard who was found as a stray with a wound on his face.

This very special lad has made such a transformation from when he arrived back in May.

He was in a poor state, having lived life as a stray -  but is now loving life now in his foster home.

He does sadly have FIV which means he must remain as an indoor cat. But he doesn't have a problem with this as he loves human company.

He does still enjoy his snoozes - especially out in the sun on his cat tree - but he has grown in confidence so much and now enjoys all the fuss and attention that he is given.

He is so affectionate and loves his nose being stroked, it sends him off to sleep! He absolutely loves playing with toys and will zoom around doing all sorts of acrobatics after a wand toy and ball toy - he's so much fun to play with!

He has been lucky enough to go into a foster home where he has settled in so well and is living the life that he so deserves. He loves being near people and finds it comforting when they are around.

As he is FIV positive he must be an indoor only cat with no other animals in the home.

Molly who came to the RSPCA with her daughter

Molly is a super sweet-hearted girl. Despite her age, Molly loves to zoom around the field, especially if someone is playing around with her! SHe has not yet shown an interest in toys but the team are hoping this will come out once she is happy and settled in a home. But the ultimate secret to Miss Molly's heart is a good butt-scratch.

Due to her super sweet personality, we believe she could live with children aged eight and over who know when she wants snuggles and also when to give her some space.

While on-site, Molly has mixed with a few other dogs. She loves to plod around and do her own thing instead of playing crazily with other dogs like her daughter. The team believes she would be happiest as the only dog in the house, she can probably make some nice calm dog walking friends in the future.

To find out more about the animals currently looking for homes at Blackberry Farm please visit their find a pet page (external site).

Strictly Come Dancing judge and RSPCA ambassador Shirley Ballas sprinkled some Christmas cheer when she dropped in to RSPCA Millbrook Animal Centre Chobham, Surrey to deliver gifts for the animals and thank the staff and volunteers for their incredible work.

Shirley said: "Christmas is such a special time for so many, but as we gather to celebrate the festive time with our families and friends, not forgetting our beloved pets, the vital work of the RSPCA does not stop and this is why I am delighted that Omaze has partnered with the charity to help raise money to support their vital work.

"During the festive break staff and volunteers at the RSPCA will be making thousands of dinners, cleaning out kennels, pens, hutches and stables, taking dogs on Christmas walks, playing with kittens and even carrying out life-saving surgery as well as caring for the newly rescued animals brought in by the inspectors."

Shirley is supporting the RSPCA's partnership with Omaze for their latest Million Pound House Draw, Lake District (external site) which will raise money to support the RSPCA's vital rehabilitation work for rescue animals.

She added: "I think it's wonderful that Omaze has made this incredible donation to the RSPCA, the funding will support the RSPCA's animal rehabilitation work across their centres and and hospitals in England and Wales, meaning they can give hundreds of rescued animals the specialised care and attention they need to recover from cruelty, neglect, abuse and injury."

This is Omaze's third partnership with the RSPCA - who will receive a guaranteed donation of £1 million pounds from the Omaze Community. The funds raised will help support the RSPCA's rehabilitation work, providing hundreds of neglected and abused animals with bespoke physical, emotional and behavioural care, allowing them to heal and find a better future.

Heartbreakingly, almost all of these animals in the charity's care are victims of neglect and cruelty - many needing weeks and months of rehabilitation, while others have to wait for their legal cases to end.

Shirley added: "Visiting an RSPCA centre sparks a whole range of emotion - the heartbreak of seeing so many animals that have been neglected, abandoned or are victims of horrendous cruelty. But then there is the joy of seeing these animals' lives being turned around thanks to the expert care, patience and love provided by the teams.

"I heard heartbreaking stories of animals who have endured unimaginable cruelty, but the hope of their recovery is so moving - the miracle of a first tail wag, the acceptance of being stroked by a person or even that first walk on grass after being kept indoors all their lives.

"I love my dog Charlie with all my heart. He has always been there for me, just like I've always been there for him. And I hope that all these animals in RSPCA centres will soon find a home with owners who will feel the same. I would urge anyone who is considering getting an animal to please consider a rescue pet and adopt first - they really do deserve their second chance at happiness."

*Up to the end of October 24,280 incidents about an animal being abandoned or dumped had been raised with the charity's emergency line - up from 19,727 in the first 10 months of 2024.

In June, July and August last year (2024)  the RSPCA took 34,401* cruelty calls to their emergency line - compared to 25,887* the year before (2023)  - up by a third .On average it took 374 reports of cruelty against animals every single day during this period or one call EVERY two minutes the line was open.