New figures from the RSPCA show there were 320 incidents of cat cruelty in Norfolk last year.
They are released at the start of the organisation’s Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, which aims to raise funds to help its team continue to save animals.
Nationally, last year, there were almost 18,000 cat cruelty complaints reported to the RSPCA. Of those reports 1,726 were intentional harm incidents which is around five a day. This is a 25% increase from 2021 when the number was 1,387.
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.
Kathryn Parfitt, its Chief Inspector for Norfolk said: “Right now, animal cruelty is happening in England and Wales on a massive scale and rising. It is heartbreaking that we are seeing such sad figures which show animal cruelty is, very sadly, on the rise.
“While we don’t know for certain why there has been an increase, the cost of living crisis and the post-pandemic world we live in has created an animal welfare crisis.
“Each year, these reports reach its terrible annual peak in the summer months. The cost-of-living crisis also means the cost of rescuing animals is at an all-time high and our vital services are stretched to the limit.”
“Together, we believe we can and will cancel out cruelty to animals by replacing violence with kindness. We are urging people to donate to our Cancel Out Cruelty campaign, Every donation will help animals.”
