Cats crisis in mild winter

The mild winter has been blamed for an increase in the number of abandoned kittens in Wolverhampton.

Debbie Brookes, from Kats Cradle in Coven, said more cats were mating outside in the warmer weather and causing headaches for rescue centres.

She said the Christmas period had been busier than usual and the centre had reached capacity, with 40 pets in its foster homes.

Normally, cats stop breeding during the winter because of the cold, allowing cats homes a chance to clear the backlog of kittens. But Mrs Brookes said that had not happened this year. She said: "Cats haven't stopped breeding. Because it's mild, we have still had a great majority of females that have been breeding and we haven't had the break we normally have."

Kats Cradle has 16 kittens and 25 cats available and has started offering them to homes again after stopping for Christmas to prevent them being given as presents.

Karen Doy, assistant manager at Sunnyside Kennels, in Dark Lane, Coven, said the centre was also very busy.

She said: "We're always inundated with strays at this time of year. They come in through police stations and via dog wardens.

"We have about 75 animals here now."