News / Animals
New figures reveal extent of cat cruelty in Bristol
New figures released by the RSPCA have revealed the “heartbreaking” extent of cat cruelty in Bristol.
The numbers, part of the animal welfare charity’s Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, show that 129 cat cruelty complaints were made in Bristol last year.
Nationally, there were almost 18,000 cat cruelty complaints reported to the RSPCA in 2022, including cases of abandonment and neglect.
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Of those reports, 1,726 were intentional harm incidents – which is around five a day. This is a 25 per cent increase from 2021 when the number was 1,387.
Intentional harm is defined as attempted killings, poisonings, beatings and improper killings.
The RSPCA says 129 cat cruelty complaints were made in Bristol last year – photo: RSPCA
Jenny Ride, RSPCA chief inspector for Bristol, said: “Right now, animal cruelty is happening in England and Wales on a massive scale and rising. It is heartbreaking that we are seeing such sad figures which show animal cruelty is, very sadly, on the rise.
“While we don’t know for certain why there has been an increase, the cost-of-living crisis and the post-pandemic world we live in has created an animal welfare crisis.
“Each year, these reports reach its terrible annual peak in the summer months. The cost-of-living crisis also means the cost of rescuing animals is at an all-time high and our vital services are stretched to the limit.”
Dr Sam Gaines, head of the RSPCA’s companion animal department, added: “We see hundreds of felines come through our doors every year who have been subjected to unimaginable cruelty – being beaten, burned, thrown around, had bones broken, been shot at, poisoned and drowned.
“In many cases these pets have been injured deliberately by their owners – the very people who are supposed to love and protect them. But cats are also more vulnerable as they tend to be out and about on their own which can leave them vulnerable to airgun attacks and other forms of cruelty by complete strangers.”
The RSPCA has released the figures as part of its Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, in a bid to raise funds to help its frontline rescue teams continue to save animals from cruelty and abuse.
It comes during a busy time for the animal welfare charity which sees cruelty peak in the summer with three reports made every single minute.
Main photo: RSPCA
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