26 Cats Rescued from Sealed Boxes in Birmingham Alleyway
Twenty-six cats and kittens were found sealed in plastic boxes and dumped beside fly-tipped rubbish in a Birmingham alleyway on September 30.
Twenty-six cats and kittens were found sealed in plastic boxes and carriers beside fly-tipped rubbish in a Birmingham alleyway. A member of the public discovered the animals struggling to breathe on Hawthorn Road between a bakery and a shop at about 1pm on Wednesday, September 30, and moved most into carriers before contacting the RSPCA.
Animal rescue officer Paul Nijjar said the animals had been found on a busy street in the middle of the day. He described it as an incredibly cruel way to treat defenceless cats and kittens. The RSPCA has launched an investigation and is reviewing CCTV footage from the area. This discovery came just days after six kittens were found abandoned in a crate on Metchley Drive, Birmingham, on September 27.
Condition and care
The finder reported many cats were lethargic and struggling to breathe in the boxes. Paul Nijjar confirmed they were all underweight and had a significant flea burden. Two cats, named Mauve, who is four weeks old, and Mr Gold, who is one year old, were taken to Birmingham Animal Hospital for treatment. They were suffering from heavy flea burden, anemia, and dehydration, and are being monitored for cat flu. The RSPCA said both are improving.
The remaining 24 cats and kittens are recovering in the charity's care. This includes six kittens from the September 27 incident, named Stevie and Nicks, Liam and Noel, and Banana and Rama, who are at Birmingham Animal Centre. All the animals will be rehomed once they are ready.
Wider crisis
This incident is part of a sharp rise in mass cat rescues, placing unprecedented pressure on RSPCA resources across England and Wales. The charity reported a 67 per cent increase in multi-cat rescues in one year.
| Year | Mass Cat Incidents (10+ cats) |
|---|---|
| 2021 | 613 |
| 2024 | 1,045 |
| 2025 | 1,752 |
The 2025 figure represents a 186% increase since 2021. This is almost five mass cat incidents per day. About 20,000 cats entered RSPCA care in 2025, and the charity fears that figure will be exceeded this year.
Prevention and appeal
Paul Nijjar urged owners to have cats neutered from four months old. "Kittens can become pregnant themselves as early as four months which is why booking an appointment with a vet for early neutering is so important," he said. An RSPCA spokesperson added that financial assistance for neutering costs is available through local animal charities.
The RSPCA is appealing for information. Anyone with details about the Hawthorn Road case is asked to contact the appeals line on 0300 123 8018, quoting incident number 01915832. For the Metchley Drive case, quote incident number 0191309.
Ongoing investigation
CCTV footage is being reviewed. The RSPCA is grateful to the person who found the felines and got them help as soon as possible. Paul Nijjar said people are struggling but there are ways to get help.
The RSPCA is appealing for adopters, especially during its Adoptober campaign, a month dedicated to promoting harder-to-rehome animals. Potential adopters can visit the RSPCA website to learn more about the adoption process. People can also help by sharing RSPCA animal profiles to find them new families.
