HUNDREDS of cases of cat cruelty were reported in Dorset last year, the RSPCA have revealed.

Over the last six years, between 2016 and 2021, there were 16,212 incidents of deliberate cruelty towards cats reported to the animal welfare charity.

In 2021 alone, there were 1,387 reports of intentional harm to cats and this peaked during the months of July and August.

Overall, there were 17,804 complaints made to the charity regarding cats in 2021 from abandonments, poisonings, mutilations, shootings, beatings and neglect. This includes 238 reports in Dorset alone.

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The RSPCA also fears that new figures showing a recent boom in the kitten trade could see a ‘worrying rise’ in breeders putting profits before welfare, leading to further cruelty to cats.

In the last five years, there were 825 reports made to Trading Standards, council officers who enforce consumer protection laws, across England and Wales involving kitten related complaints. Compared with 2017 figures, there was a 185% increase in 2021 regarding the buying and selling of kittens.

David Bowles, Head of Public Affairs at the RSPCA, said: “The demand for pets soared during the pandemic meaning backstreet kitten breeders have been able to make more money out of flogging pets online. We normally see a rise in kittens being sold at this time of year and coupled with the cost-of-living crisis, sadly we could see a boom in the kitten trade this year as a result.”

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Sam Watson, cat welfare expert at the RSPCA, said: “It’s awful to think cats are suffering deliberate cruelty and to know that an average of seven cats every single day are suffering at the hands of humans is really distressing. Cats are one of the most popular pets in the UK with an estimated 10.5 million pet cats in UK homes but sadly they are the second most abused pet - after dogs.

“Tragically, we see hundreds of animals that come through our doors every year who have been subjected to unimaginable cruelty - being beaten, thrown across the room, had bones broken, been shot at, poisoned and drowned.

“As well as being hurt by their owners, 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.”