An animal rescue group has reported a 100% increase in the number of purebred cats found abandoned in the last year.

Natasha McPhee from Animals Lost and Found in Kent thinks the problem could be down to cats not fit for breeding being dumped or people taking on pets without doing their research.

In the last year, the Medway-based animal welfare organisation has been called out to rescue dumped birmans, rag dolls, Bengals, British shorthairs and even sphynxs around the county.

Natasha said this would have been unheard of in the past.

"We've not seen it before,” she explained.

"They are most likely coming from not very nice breeders who don't know how to look after them properly.

“Some pure breed animals have been given as gifts to people that don't know about their breed or people rehome and buy a certain breed and they haven't done their homework on what a specific breeds needs are, so they are unable to keep them.

“Bengals for example are a very high energetic breed and need someone with a lot of space in their home to keep them entertained as they get bored easily and become destructive.

“Every breed and every cat is different whether they are a pure breed or a mixed breed. No two cats are alike so being their keeper, people need to learn more about animal behaviour.”

The growing trend has also been noticed nationally by the RSPCA whose figures show a 92% increase in Persian cats coming into the charity’s care from 2018 to 2022, although the figure did drop slightly last year.

It has also seen a 61% increase in ragdoll cats coming into RSPCA care and a 22% increase in Bengal cats from 2018 to 2023.

A spokesman for the national organisation said: “Over the last few years we have seen an increase in the numbers of certain pedigree cats coming into our care as a result of ‘designer’ cat breeds becoming more popular with cat owners.

“There has been a 92% increase in Persian cats coming into our care since 2018 and they are now the most common pedigree breed found in our animal centres, likely due to their popularity on social media and their use in advertising.

“The second most common pedigree breed is the ragdoll.

“Sadly, many cat breeds have exaggerated physical features, some of which have become so extreme that they can cause pain and suffering, some make cats prone to particular disorders, and some prevent them from behaving normally.

“Persian cats are bred to have ‘flat-faces’ which often causes them to have brachycephaly which means they struggle to breathe, sleep and even give birth.

“The RSPCA strongly believes that all those who breed cats should prioritise health, welfare and temperament over appearance when choosing which animals to breed, in order to protect the welfare of both the parents and offspring.

“We know owners want their pets to be happy and healthy, and people may not realise that cats bred with exaggerated features can struggle with extremely serious health problems. We would like to see breeders doing more to ensure they are producing kittens who are happy and healthy.”

Natasha says her organisation has also seen an increase in the number of young cats being hit by cars which she is putting down to the kittens not being neutered as well as the growing popularity of electric cars combined with the recent high winds.

"Cats who have not been neutered are driven by their hormones and will race across the road to escape a tom cat or to follow a potential mate and not pay attention to the cars.

"A cat’s sense of hearing is very heightened so the silent electric cars are dangerous for them.

"In the strong winds they hear the rushing of the wind in their ears and think it is a car coming. If the wind stops for a minute they think the road is clear and run out."

Natasha is urging people to make sure their cats are neutered in an attempt to cut down on the number being killed on the roads.

“It’s so upsetting to go and pick up these young cats from the road after they have been hit by cars,” Natasha said. “They have not lived their lives.”

Natasha is also urging people to make sure their cats are microchipped as it means the owner can be tracked easily.

New legislation coming into force on June 10 means all cats must have a microchip before they reach the age of 20 weeks and their contact details stored and kept up to date in a pet microchipping database.

Owners who do not microchip their cat by this date will have 21 days to have one implanted or face a fine of up to £500.

Natasha says the new laws will go a long way to helping them find the original breeder of dumped cats.

She added: “It’ll make it much easier to figure it out.”