Dozens of cats found in boxes and dumped in alley

Twenty-six cats and kittens were found sealed in plastic boxes and carriers and dumped beside fly-tipped rubbish in a Birmingham alleyway.

The animals were discovered between a bakery and a shop on Hawthorn Road, at about 13:00 BST on 30 September.

A member of the public found them and moved most of the cats into carriers before contacting the RSPCA.

Animal rescue officer, Paul Nijjar, said some of the animals were "struggling to breathe" when they were found.

He said: "This was clearly a distressing discovery - 26 cats and kittens, with some shut in sealed plastic boxes.

"The finder said that when he came across them, many were lethargic and appeared to be struggling to breathe in the boxes. They were all underweight and had a significant flea burden."

Two of the cats, four-week-old Mauve and one-year-old Mr Gold, are being treated at Birmingham Animal Hospital for heavy flea burdens, anaemia and dehydration.

They are also being monitored for cat flu, but the RSPCA said both are improving.

The remaining 24 cats and kittens are recovering in the charity's care and will be rehomed when they are ready.

Nijjar said the animals had been found "on a busy street in the middle of the day" and that CCTV footage from the area was being reviewed.

"This is an incredibly cruel way to treat defenceless cats and kittens," he said.

"We know people are struggling, but there are ways to get help."

The discovery came just days after six kittens were found abandoned in a crate on Metchley Drive, Birmingham, on 27 September.

The kittens, named Stevie and Nicks, Liam and Noel, and Banana and Rama, are recovering at Birmingham Animal Centre and will be rehomed.

The RSPCA said it had recorded a 67% increase in mass cat incidents in England and Wales in a year, with 1,752 involving 10 or more cats at a single property in 2025.

That compares with 1,045 in 2024 and 613 in 2021.

The charity said the incidents were putting "unprecedented pressure" on its resources. About 20,000 cats entered RSPCA care in 2025, and it fears that figure will be exceeded this year.

Nijjar urged owners to have cats neutered from four months old, warning that kittens can become pregnant themselves at that age.

Anyone with information about either incident is asked to contact the RSPCA on 0300 123 8018, quoting incident 01915832 for the Hawthorn Road case or 0191309 for Metchley Drive.

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