THERE has been a staggering 81 cat incidents on the Isle of Wight this year, and the RSPCA is urging the public to do their research amidst a boom in kitten buying.

The RSPCA is concerned the boom could lead to more cats coming into rescue centres and needing new homes.

July saw Google searches for ‘kittens near me’ increase six-fold compared to the same period last year.

During lockdown, there was a 188 per cent increase in searches for kittens within just a few months.

Isle of Wight County Press:

Buster, a 14-year-old cat at RSPCA Isle of Wight Godshill Animal Centre.

Alice Potter, the RSPCA’s cat welfare expert, said: “It’s fantastic that so many people are interested in bringing a cat into their home this year.

"However, with such high increases in people searching for kittens online, it’s important that prospective owners are doing their research and not buying a kitten on impulse.

"This means making sure they have the time, money and resources to care for a cat for the rest of their lives, and also ensuring they are buying a healthy and happy kitten from a responsible breeder.

Isle of Wight County Press:

One-year-old Pippin, who arrived at the centre as a stray.

“Sadly, we do see cases of cats coming into our care who have been bought without the correct vaccinations, care or attention."

Since the start of the year, the RSPCA has received more than 45,000 incidents relating to cats.

“We are braced for a kitten season boom next year as routine neutering procedures had to be put on hold during lockdown," said Alice.

"If you've got a kitten during lockdown, it’s so important to get them booked into your vets for a spay or a snip.

“Kittens can get pregnant from just four months old and there may be a longer wait than usual at some vet practices due to the pandemic, so it’s important to get them booked in early."