'Cat crisis' sparks owner appeal

The RSPCA wants farmers to re-home some feral cats

An appeal has been launched to find new homes for nearly 70 unwanted or abandoned cats being cared for by an animal charity in Shropshire

Staff at the RSPCA Gonsal Farm Animal Centre, in Dorrington, are looking after 67 cats and kittens and said there was no room for any more.

Donna Wardrobe, from the charity, said the situation was the worst the charity had seen for 20 years.

Anyone interested in re-homing a cat should call or visit Gonsal Farm.

The latest arrival at the centre was on Monday when a cat was found walking along the hard shoulder of the M54 near Shifnal. He has now been named Freeway.

Ms Wardrobe said: "In my 20 years working with the RSPCA there has never been such a bad year for cats.

"We have more cats than we should have at present and desperately need to find them homes."

Staff said they hoped some feral cats currently at the centre would be taken in by farmers to catch rodents at their farms or smallholdings.