Heartbreaking figures released by the RSPCA have revealed 267 cat cruelty complaints were made in Cambridgeshire last year. 

The charity has released the numbers 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. 

The cost-of-living crisis is also thought to be a contributing factor to an increase in deliberate harm to animals at a time when the cost of rescuing animals is at an all-time high and the RSPCA’s vital services are stretched to the limit. 

Head of the RSPCA’s companion animal department, Dr Sam Gaines, said: “It is heartbreaking to think that five cats every day are suffering at the hands of humans - it really is appalling - but sadly the RSPCA knows all too well that this cruelty is carried out on a regular basis.” 

“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. 

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“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.” 

Together with communities, the RSPCA believes they can cancel out cruelty to animals by replacing violence with kindness. 

The charity is urging people to donate to their Cancel Out Cruelty campaign as every donation will help animals. 

You can donate here: RSPCA Cancel Out Cruelty.