"Unprecedented" numbers of abandoned & unplanned kittens are in need of help in Sheffield, charity warns
“Almost every week we are being brought boxes and carrier bags filled with kittens that have been discovered by members of the public”
Blue Cross is calling on South Yorkshire cat owners to neuter their pets to avoid the hundreds of unplanned litters of kittens needing the charity’s care.
The charity says it is facing a hidden pet welfare crisis due to the ongoing cost of living crisis and is concerned that pet owners are not neutering their pet to avoid vet fees.
There are also concerns that owners may be deliberately breeding their cat to sell the kittens, but a lack of buyers leads to them being brought into rescue or simply abandoned to fend for themselves.
Speaking ahead of International Cat Day today (Saturday, August 8, 2026), Katy Orton, Centre Manager at Blue Cross, Sheffield said: “I have never seen kittens coming in for help on a scale like this.
“Almost every week we are being brought boxes and carrier bags filled with kittens that have been discovered by members of the public.
“Some are incredibly young and need round the clock care to give them the best chance of survival. This is in addition to the many unplanned and unwanted litters being brought in as well as pregnant cats.”
Blue Cross’ Sheffield animal rehoming centre has already taken in 30 kittens over the first half of this year, compared to 2025 when 32 were taken in over the whole year.
With the summer being peak time for cats to have kittens and ongoing heatwaves the charity fears worse is yet to come.
The charity is looking for homes for 14-week-old kittens Merida, Mulan, Aurora and Eugene.
They were an unplanned litter that the owner could not look after.
There are many more kittens, cats and other pets in the care of Blue Cross, desperately needing a home.
To see them and find out how to rehome a pet from Blue Cross visit Rehome a Blue Cross pet
Blue Cross says itneeds the support of animal lovers, as it attempts to tackle the “hidden pet welfare crisis.”
For more information on how you can help, please visit: www.bluecross.org.uk