The RSPCA is urging people to consider adopting a rescue cat, amid an all-time high in numbers of moggies in the charity's care including in Cheshire.

New data unveiled during the RSPCA's Adoptober rehoming drive reveals that the number of cats being cared for at the charity's fourteen national centres alone, as they wait for forever homes, has more than doubled from some 800 in 2020 to around 1,700 this summer.

And thousands more cats are being cared for by independently-run RSPCA branches across England and Wales.

RSPCA records also showed cats are now waiting more than a week longer to find a new home - 40 days on average, a rise from 32.5 days in September last year (23% increase).

Although RSPCA centres and branches across England and Wales rehome more cats than any other animal - more than 17,000 last year or about two every single hour - there are still record numbers of cats in the charity's care.

She enjoys all her home comforts and is very friendly so would be happy to be an indoor cat but also would like the chance to enjoy the garden and a semi-rural home would suit her best. She would prefer to be the only cat in the home.

Two year-old handsome boy Ollie would also like a home to call his own. He has been with the branch for a while due to legal reasons but finally this has now been resolved, and he is now ready to start his new life with a loving family, putting his past behind him. 

This is what she has to say about him. "Ollie is the perfect cat if you want a best friend, he is very playful with toys….especially if there's treats around.

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He can be a little nervous when meeting new people, but he will come around and once he knows you, he is super confident, and he will be your best friend. Ollie is very inquisitive, so a home with safe access would be ideal.

"He will happily come and sit with you and even join you at nighttime. Ollie is just the perfect cat."

RSPCA cat welfare specialist, Alice Potter said: "We have an astonishing number of cats in our care who are looking for a new home. Many have come from recent large-scale cruelty and neglect cases.

"For example, we find that it can take black cats three times longer (29 days) to find homes than tabby cats (nine days), meaning not only are there more in RSPCA care but they are also staying for longer.

"There's a cat for everyone: cute kittens, marvellous moggies, fireside felines and outdoor adventurers, we've got every kind of cat waiting for another chance at happiness. 

"We always encourage prospective pet owners to look beyond appearance, breed and colour and instead look for a personality that matches you and your lifestyle. 

"However, we also have purebred and pedigree cats coming into our care - so even those who have a particular breed or type in mind may find their perfect partner, without fueling problematic commercial breeding. 

"We'd urge anyone ready and able to adopt a rescue animal to fill in a 'perfect match' form with your local RSPCA centre or branch and they'll let you know when an animal who matches you comes into their care."

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If you are interested in offering one of these felines a forever home - please fill in an online application form.