After 234 days at RSPCA Block Fen in Wimblington Fenton the cat remains unadopted
A staggering 118 animals at national RSPCA centres have been waiting more than 100 days for a new home - including Fenton from RSPCA Block Fen Animal Centre.
Shocking new data today reveals that rescue animals are spending even longer in the charity’s care.
Fenton is one of them and has now spent 234 days in RSPCA Block Fen Animal Centre’s care in Wimblington, without being offered a forever home - highlighting the ongoing rehoming crisis across England and Wales.
The RSPCA hopes their fortunes will soon change, as part of its annual Adopter October rehoming drive.
Fenton arrived into RSPCA care after he was found straying and needed help.
He is a cheeky boy who is full of life. Fenton enjoys spending his time outside watching the world go by on his cat scratcher or having a well-deserved snooze in his bed.
He is looking for a home where he would be the only pet and staff and volunteers at the centre hope this Adoptober will be the month for him to finally find his forever home.
Across England and Wales, the average length of time dogs, cats and rabbits have to wait before someone adopts them has risen by almost one-third (31%) over the past five years (from 31.7 days in 2019 to 41.4 days in 2023), according to new data from the RSPCA released today. Consequently, many rehoming centres are bursting at the seams and unable to take in new animals - with many in costly emergency boarding centres while they wait for space.
Karen Colman, who leads the RSPCA team finding places for rescued animals, said: “We are appealing to potential adopters to - where possible - consider rehoming pets which have spent a particularly long time waiting for their forever home at our centres.
“We have so many wonderful dogs, cats and rabbits who through absolutely no fault of their own are sitting at rescue centres waiting patiently for the next chapter of their lives to begin. That chapter cannot start without the public coming forward to offer them homes.
“We are especially keen for those people with higher levels of pet-owning experience and patience to step forward and consider adopting one of our more ‘hard to rehome’ animals because the situation has reached a crisis point.
“Spaces at our rehoming centres are like gold dust. The longer rescue animals remain unadopted, the longer others have to wait for a space at our rehoming centres.
“Our rehoming centres are crying out for people who have the desire, dedication, time, facilities and willingness to step forward and offer to adopt our long stay animals. They can do this with the confidence that the RSPCA rehoming team will give them all the help, advice and support they need to make the animals transition from centre to home a positive one.”
Karen hopes the RSPCA’s annual Adoptober rehoming drive could finally provide the “rehoming moment” for the charity’s long-stay animals.
She added: “It’s heartbreaking. There are so many pets that have been with us for 100 days or more and have still not been rehomed.
“While animals living in our rehoming centres are loved and cared for, it’s not the life we want to see for pets in the long term. They all deserve a special home where they can be cherished and be part of someone’s family.”
Potential adopters can visit the RSPCA’s Find a Pet webpage to see all of the animals currently in the charity’s care who are looking for their perfect match.
Supporters can also help the RSPCA continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming by donating online or calling their donation line on 0300 123 8181.
