AN animal welfare charity is overflowing with cats and is desperate to find loving homes for them.

The Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (RSPCA) mid-Worcestershire branch has got more than 35 cats in its possession and volunteers said they cannot take any more in.

Branch secretary Pam Booker, who has been involved with the charity for more than 30 years, said this is the worst period for rehoming cats she has ever encountered and blamed it on the credit crunch.

"I don't know whether people are panicking or are having a really hard time stuggling to pay bills, but things are quite dire for us," she said.

"Somebody taking on one or two cats would help us a lot."

Mrs Booker blamed people who had not neutered their cats for adding to the problem. She said the abondoned animals are costing the charity, which gets no financial help from RSPCA headquarters or from the Government, a lot of money in vet bills and boarding fees, while donations have dried up over the last few months.

"People are finding it quite trying at the moment and we will just have to weather the storm," she said. "Obviously we don't want people to take on something they can't afford, but if they can we would love to hear from them."

Mrs Booker said all cats for rehoming are vaccinated, identity-microchipped, neutered or spayed.

Anyone interested in rehoming a cat should call Pam Booker on 01905 841354 or Geraldine Haynes on 01886 822083. People can also see the cats in need of a new home by logging onto rspca-worcester.co.uk.