The RSPCA are an animal welfare charity, they charge for cats and kittens in order to cover their costs. They should not be making a profit from it. Selling pedigree cats they have for a LOT more than the Moggie cats gives the public and society the wrong impression of pedigree cats. Pedigree cats/kittens cost what they do because of the money and effort that goes into breeding them. In theory, if Moggie breeders were to screen and health test, keep kittens until fully vaccinated etc. then they should, in theory, be able to charge more so that their costs are covered. This kind of attitude that the RSPCA have just reinforces the idea to people that they can breed willy hilly and make a lot of money from it.

Besides, to the RSPCA in this situation, these poor cats were just pound signs. They knew nothing about the breed and refused to work with several breeders to find them a home. Surely that is what they are there for? To find these cats a home. That is why the owners relatives had signed them over, because they needed a home. Here the breeders were trying desperately to get the poor cats out of the centre as they were so distressed. Obviously the UK's number one animal welfare charity was far more concerned in: a) annoying breeders (which they do a lot) and b) getting as much money for the cats as they could. These cats were not sold to the breed club but sent there for fostering, for a FEE! The adoption fee was still payable by the new owner to the RSPCA. Since when do fosterers have to pay the rescue centre in order to help them out?

This was the Leicester city branch but RSPCA head office were still involved and did not overrule anything or advise the centre to stop being so selfish. Maybe individual centres are better but, as a whole, I have absolutely no respect for them anymore.

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Lollo

I don't like the RSPCA either and refuse to pay any money toward them - i reported a dog which i had seen being beaten with my own eyes and then saw happen AGAIN so i updated my call. It took them about 5 weeks to go to the property to investigate for them to finally call me back around 6 weeks after the original phone call, which i believe is their maximum limit, and say there was no dog at that property!!! I fear that the reason for that was the poor thing probably died. I also have heard about 4/5 stories off friends which were also awful stories. They just don't seem to care. I also watched a programme on the RSPCA a while ago and didn't like what i saw...

Glad these two kitties are ok now! X

I think they do need to make some profit cus they also need back up money for unezpected travel, emergancies with vets, advertising, resources for offices and fundraising events ect. I guess my area is lucky but like i said i do know of all the stories where the rspca are failing unfortunatley :( x

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Lily

Come on people the RSPCA do a very good job with very little funding and I think its right for them to charge more for a pedigree cat than others. They have to capitalise on every opportunity they have to create a revenue source to fund the not so pretty moggy cats.

Yes the RSPCA have some very strict rules about where they place or rehome animals but without a strict framework, they increase the likelihood of these animals being returned to them time and time again. Also lets not forget the stirling job they do in lobbying parliment for better treatment of animals across the board.

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Lollo

Looking at the Rspca's 2011 accounts two figures horrify me the most, side by side.

Animals re homed : 77,211
Humane euthanasia: 53,184

That's over a 40% kill rate...:

Those stats show there are just too many pets: to housholds in the UK

I know loads of people with multiple pets and its not good enough. There will never be adequate housing for all these animals unless we had a magic pause button to pause any more breeding

So the excess or ones left over either become homeless and suffer, or eventually put to sleep to either end suffering or make way for the next lot that were needlessly bred, like a convayor belt....

If i had a wish it would be to stop any future breeding to give the older animals chance to catch up and be homed before the next cute and adorable babies come along. We can all slate RSPCA but as those stats showed they DID home 77,000 animals and that is commendable even if some of their ethics and policies are not x

Tbh I don't think its so much too many pets but too many people who live in a throw away society.

Only tonight someone on my fb said they were disgusted with a friend who was giving her cat to a rescue centre so she could get a dog.

Thats so strange why didnt she just have the both of them??? lol x

People tend to love kittens and puppies. And that is mainly the motivation for breeding too.

The original kitten acquired grows up, but there will be more kittens to fuss and coo over by letting her have one litter or indeed by buying a breeding queen. The kitten "fix" needs to be met, one of the kittens then is kept and she has a litter too and so it goes. It may even mean that older cats get rehomed "for their own good", to make sure there is room for the kittens, who are much more fun than "grumpy" older cats who just complain when their home is invaded by younger cats or kittens.

Having a litter of kittens also elevates a person's position in their friend group/family/neighbourhood as everyone wants to come and see the kittens, it is a great talking point and photos are put up everywhere in social media too. "soo cute!"

The fact kittens have a value is also a huge incentive to continue to breed and I am sure when that first handful of notes is received, many then see it all as easy money and want to repeat the process.

No one is really concerned as to where all those kittens end up eventually, as it is all fairly superficial, cosy and "nice" in some sort of rosy-spectacled haze.
Responsibility for the cats often ends as they walk out the door and it is always so exciting to look forward to the next batch of kittens, who are due any time soon...

The desire to hold and own cute little bundles of kitten fluff is ever present in humans, and that can scupper even the best neutering campaigns.

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Lily