Crewe and Nantwich cat rescues have warned they are being pushed to breaking point, as a national petition calling for action on cat overpopulation gathers more than 12,000 signatures.

The petition, created by Bradley Shaw, calls for a national strategy to expand affordable neutering, support overwhelmed rescue centres, improve responsible pet ownership education and tackle irresponsible breeding and abandonment.

It has already passed the 10,000-signature threshold, meaning the government will respond, and will remain open until February 19, 2027. If it reaches 100,000 signatures, it will be considered for debate in Parliament.

Local rescues have exclusively told Nub News the situation is already "critical."

Betley Cat Rescue says it receives hundreds of requests for help every week, despite being a small rescue.

The rescue is seeing kittens having kittens, cats struggling to survive on the streets, serious illness and injury, and animals being abandoned at an "alarming rate".

"We are stretched to our limits," the rescue said.

"Every day we have to make some very difficult decisions, and far too often we are saying, 'We are sorry, we can't help.' 'We are full and have no space,' this breaks our heart every time because we know another cat or kitten will end up dumped or left to survive on the streets."

Betley says the financial pressure is also enormous, despite supportive vets generously discounting its veterinary costs.

It is calling for low-cost neutering, greater public education and a nationally coordinated trap-neuter-return programme, saying this could make a huge difference to street cats, communities and overstretched rescues.

"The crisis is not just about the number of cats needing rescue; it is about the enormous scale of the problem and how quickly it is becoming out of control. Things have to change."

Crewe-based CAFO Rescue says it is seeing the same crisis first-hand, with more cats and kittens needing help than there are spaces available.

"There needs to be a national strategy to tackle the growing cat population, with affordable and accessible neutering at its heart," it said.

The rescue highlighted the hidden cost of taking animals in, saying veterinary treatment can cost around £175 to £200 per cat or kitten, before food, litter, insurance, transport and other care.

CAFO says reputable rescues often charge around £100 for adoption, meaning they can already be subsidising each animal by at least £70.

It warned that kittens bought or given away cheaply online can later arrive in rescue when owners realise they cannot cope.

"For a young kitten, this can mean several different homes and environments in a very short period of time before finally reaching its forever home.

"Each move can bring stress, anxiety and uncertainty at a time when a kitten needs stability and security."

The registered charity also pointed to continued failures around neutering and microchipping, with kittens being born under sheds, in gardens, builders' yards and industrial sites.

"This year has been worse than last year, and last year we said we couldn't imagine it getting any worse. Sadly, it has proved us wrong."

Nantwich's CW Cat Rescue says it is already over capacity, with 32 cats and kittens currently in its home-based rescue despite having space for a maximum of 26.

The rescue is currently battling ringworm, meaning infected cats must be quarantined and the entire rescue treated because of how contagious it is.

Its owner, Sarah Smith, says cheap online kitten sales are helping to fuel the cycle.

She told Nub News: "Anybody can go and get these kittens, and there is no guarantee whatsoever that they are going to be responsible owners, get them neutered, jabbed, or chipped. Then, obviously, the whole cycle just starts again."

The rescue believes the problem has become particularly severe since the Covid pandemic, when many people acquired kittens before later abandoning them.

CW Cat Rescue is calling for tighter restrictions on social media sales, penalties for owners of unchipped cats, funding for TNR programmes and reduced-cost neutering and microchipping schemes.

It also wants legislation requiring drivers who hit cats to report the incident or take the animal to a vet.

Sarah said encouraging responsible indoor cat ownership or secure "catio" access could also help prevent lost or escaped cats breeding, where appropriate.

The message from all three local rescues is stark: The burden cannot continue to fall on volunteers picking up the pieces after the problem has already reached crisis point.

Affordable neutering, responsible ownership, effective enforcement and greater support for rescues could, they say, prevent thousands of cats from ever reaching their doors.

Sign Bradley's petition HERE. Nub News has contacted Crewe and Nantwich MP, Connor Naismith, for comment on the petition and the concerns raised by the three local cat rescues.