CATS may make the purr-fect pets but staff at a South Lakeland animal sanctuaries are having kittens after being inundated with hordes of unwanted moggies.

Animal Rescue Cumbria: The Wainwright Shelter, at Grayrigg, is currently home to almost 40 unwanted cats and it is getting more crowded each week.

Shelter supervisor Hayley Stocker said cats were left at the shelter for a variety of reasons but many were abandoned by owners who were moving house or could no longer afford to keep a pet.

“Last week a man just dumped two lovely ginger cats in our car park and drove off,” she said.

“It’s getting more and more crowded here and we have a huge waiting list.

“And it’s not just us, we’ve been in touch with every other centre in the county and they’re all full to bursting with cats, most of which are perfectly healthy.”

Pauline Brocklehurst, treasurer of the shelter, believes owners are finding it increasingly difficult to afford a pet during the recession.

“We are inundated,” she said.

“It is a direct result of the recession.

"The animals are the victims of this and very often people forget this.”

Alan Green, supervisor of the RSPCA cattery at Oxen-holme, said potential owners did not always realise the cost involved in keeping a cat.

“We hope people take the responsibility of having a cat seriously and realise the cost.

"I don’t know if it’s due to the recession but we find we are re-homing them much less frequently,” he said.

“I would advise that people get their pets microchipped in case they get lost and be very careful before they adopt a cat.

“They will be with you for a long time. It’s a life-long commitment.

“My cattery is at full capacity at the moment. Just in the past three weeks I’ve had three cats coming in just from Oxenholme.

“We’re ridiculously inundated.”

To learn more about adopting a cat visit: www.animalrescuecumbria.co.uk.