Understand
RSPCA investigates after 26 cats and kittens are found sealed in plastic boxes in Birmingham alley
Overview
The RSPCA is appealing for information after 26 cats and kittens were discovered sealed in plastic boxes and carriers, dumped beside fly-tipped rubbish in a Birmingham alleyway on 30 September. A member of the public found the animals struggling to breathe, underweight, and suffering from heavy fleas. Two of the cats are receiving treatment at Birmingham Animal Hospital, while the rest are recovering in RSPCA care. This incident follows the abandonment of six kittens in a crate on Metchley Drive just days prior, amid rising numbers of mass cat incidents straining charity resources.
Key points
- Twenty-six cats and kittens were found sealed in plastic boxes and carriers in a Birmingham alleyway on 30 September.
- A member of the public discovered the animals, noting many were lethargic and struggling to breathe.
- The cats were underweight and suffered from heavy flea burdens, with two currently receiving hospital treatment.
- The discovery follows a separate incident on 27 September where six kittens were abandoned in a crate on Metchley Drive.
- The RSPCA reported a 67% increase in mass cat incidents involving 10 or more cats in England and Wales over a one-year period, putting severe pressure on charity resources.
