New statistics revealed by the RSPCA have shown that a whopping 94 per cent of cats in some of its Kent branches are overlooked because they are black.

The plight of hard to rehome cats has hit the news this week after an owner admitted she had put up her black cat for rehoming because it didn't look good in photos.

Today, the Tunbridge Wells & Maidstone RSPCA has issued an urgent appeal to the public because it is bursting with beautiful black cats who need a new home.

There are a number of reasons for black cats being harder to rehome, ranging from the idea that black cats are harder to 'tell apart' than cats with more distinctive markings, black animals tend not to photograph as well as other markings - so people may not notice them on a website - and even the fact that there still is some superstitions around black cats.

Not only is it a national problem with black cats making up around 70 per cent of the felines in RSPCA care - but this number jumps to a whopping 94 per cent of cats at the Tunbridge Wells and Maidstone branch.

Katie Harris, a member of staff at the branch said: “The public simply choose not to visit when you say we only have black cats or come and ask where the other coloured kittens are.

“We had two mums give birth last week and one gave birth to five black kittens and the other had seven but four were black. We love them and want potential rehomers to as well."

Some of the black cats waiting for homes at the branch include a brain damaged black cat called Archie and a young kitten called Cooper- who has been hand reared by the dedicated branch workers even though they fear it will be hard to find him a home because of his colour.

To re-home a black cat please visit: http://www.rspca-tunbridgewellsandmaidstone.org.uk/