Community Efforts to Control Cat Population in South Wales
A woman operating a cat rescue sanctuary from her home has reported spending thousands of pounds neutering cats owned by others, as charities highlight a significant increase in the number of pets requiring assistance.
Anna Mason, who manages Anna's Rescue Centre in Cardiff, stated that most of the calls she receives come from individuals unable to afford the upkeep of their cats.
"I personally have spent £40,000 neutering other people's cats," she said. "They pay me £50 and I pay the vet the rest of the money to try and help to control the numbers of cats wandering around in south Wales."
RSPCA Reports a Surge in Cats Under Care
The RSPCA has described the situation as a "crisis," noting a 72% increase in the number of cats in its care across England and Wales since 2021.
Anna, a 58-year-old mother of three, began rescuing cats in 2017.
"I was a veterinary nurse for eight years before starting my family," she explained.
"Most of the main issues are cats giving birth outside and turning into feral cats and people having to deal with them.
It's an absolutely massive circle. One pair can produce so many kittens over that year and if they're not picked up, that street has 40 or 50 stray cats all of a sudden."
Since October 2025, Anna has spent approximately £40,000 on neutering costs, funded through charitable donations supplemented by her personal income.
Rising Numbers and Capacity Challenges
At the end of 2025, the RSPCA reported caring for more than 1,400 cats across England and Wales, marking a 72% increase from 832 cats four years prior.
The organisation has urged cat owners to neuter their pets to address the ongoing "capacity and welfare crisis."
Ty-Nant Cat Sanctuary Faces Overwhelming Demand
Another cat sanctuary located in Cymmer, Neath Port Talbot, has made the difficult decision to stop accepting new animals due to a substantial rise in demand.
Ty-Nant Cat Sanctuary, operated by volunteers, currently cares for over 100 cats and has an additional 100 cats on its waiting list.
Jo, a volunteer at Ty-Nant for nine years, described a "massive increase" in cat owners seeking assistance recently, which has pushed the sanctuary to its limits.
"It's too many cats, not enough money and not enough volunteers," she said, noting that vet bills have tripled in recent years.
"We've got to turn down some cats knowing that we'll be having to prioritise calls about kittens found."
Jo anticipates that the situation will intensify as kitten season begins.
Impact of Economic and Pandemic Factors
Animal welfare organisations have previously expressed concerns about cats being abandoned due to the cost of living crisis, highlighting rising pet food prices and fears of unexpected veterinary expenses.
The Covid-19 pandemic also contributed to the situation, as many people adopted cats but were unable to have them neutered during lockdown restrictions.
Jo stated this led to a "massive boom in the cat population" that many rescue services have yet to recover from.
Despite these challenges, Jo affirmed Ty-Nant's commitment to reopening its doors to cats in need as soon as possible.
RSPCA Cymru Highlights Record Cat Intake
RSPCA Cymru reported,
"Sadly, we are seeing record numbers of cats entering our care. We began 2026 with a higher number of cats than in each of the previous five years - 1,280 cats across England and Wales."
"As well as urging potential owners to adopt a rescue cat instead of shopping for one, we urge cat owners to neuter their pets to help stop unwanted breeding, as this exacerbates the problem amid the ongoing capacity and welfare crisis."
