Unwanted kittens are continuing to flood into Thanet RSPCA's Woodchurch Animal Centre in one of the worst year's it has known for cat dumping and abandoment.

The blame for the all-time high in unwanted cats and kittens has been put down to tough economic times and irresponsible owners who fail to neuter their pets.

The combination has led to an all-time high in the number of abandoned and unwanted cats at Thanet RSPCA’s Woodchurch Animal Centre.

The RSPCA centre is crying out for new homes with more than 25 kittens in urgent need and many adult cats to rehome too.

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Once ready to leave their mums, it is particularly important kittens find good new homes as soon as possible.

It is crucial for their physical, mental and emotional development.

The RSPCA Woodchurch Animal Centre currently has 25 beautiful kittens looking for homes, as well as many adult cats.

The centre’s senior animal care assistant Andrea Hissey said: “It is not a great environment for kittens to grow up in. As soon as they are ready to leave mum, they need to be in loving, caring homes so that they can grow up into well balanced, well-adjusted adults. We are desperate to find homes for them all, but we hate seeing those poor little homeless kitten faces hanging around in the cattery more than anything else.”

Ideally, staff like to home kittens in pairs, but will gladly home them on their own providing they are not left home alone for long periods of time.

Every kitten rehomed by the centre will have had its first vaccination and a micro-chip, with all other aspects of their care catered for.

New owners are given appointments to return to the centre for the final part of the vaccination and for neutering.

The cost of all this is included in the nominal adoption fee. Not only is it more responsible to give a rescued animal a home, it also makes sense financially.

Meanwhile, the RSPCA's mobile neutering clinic visits regularly each month. Kittens and cats are dropped off at 8am and collected at lunchtime, following their operations carried out for a nominal £25.

The Thanet branch of the RSPCA works closely to provide a service to cats and kittens in the care of other local animal welfare groups including Cats In Crisis, Thanet Animal Group (TAG) and Thanet Cat Club.

Animals can generally be operated on as young as 12 weeks, an age at which it is in fact less traumatic for the kitten. Appointments must be booked and more details are available from co-ordinator Barbara Woodruff on 01843 297931.

For full details on rehoming a cat or kitten, please contact the RSPCA centre on 01843 826180 or e-mail: info@rspcathanet.org.uk. The RSPCA Isle of Thanet branch welcomes supporters and followers on Facebook and Twitter @RSPCAThanet.

On Saturday, October 26, from 6-8pm, there will be a spooky evening of family fun at the centre, with terrifying face painting, eerie arts and crafts, a ghoulish bake sale, a haunted Portacabin to explore and much more.

Carve your pumpkin with the hope of winning a prize and turn up and blend in in fancy dress - all in aid of centre funds.

Book places on 01843 604597/863461 or 07732 758100. The centre is in Queensdown Road, Woodchurch, near Birchington CT7 0HG.