Twenty-six abandoned cats in plastic boxes were found in Birmingham on 30 September, after a member of the public spotted them in a Hawthorn Road alleyway at 1pm. The RSPCA took the animals into care and started reviewing CCTV footage in the area.
Animal Rescue Officer Paul Nijjar said: "This was clearly a distressing discovery – 26 cats and kittens, with some shut in sealed plastic boxes." He added that the find came on a busy street in the middle of the day, and asked anyone with information to contact the RSPCA appeals line on 0300 123 8018, quoting incident number 01915832.
Paul Nijjar on Hawthorn Road
Nijjar also said: "This is an incredibly cruel way to treat defenceless cats and kittens. We know people are struggling, but there are ways to get help. We are so grateful to the person who found these felines and for getting them help as soon as possible." The cats and kittens were found between a bakery and a shop, and many were lethargic and appeared to be struggling to breathe in the boxes.
All 26 were underweight and had a significant flea burden. Two of the cats, Mauve and Mr Gold, were being treated in Birmingham Animal Hospital for heavy flea burden, anemia and dehydration, and were being monitored for cat flu. Mauve was four weeks old and Mr Gold was one year old.
RSPCA care after 30 September
The other 24 cats and kittens were recovering in RSPCA care and will be rehomed when ready. Their recovery came days after six kittens were found abandoned in a crate on Metchley Drive in Birmingham on 27 September, a separate rescue that left Stevie, Nicks, Liam, Noel, Banana and Rama at Birmingham Animal Centre.
The back-to-back rescues fit a wider pattern the charity has been tracking. The RSPCA said it dealt with 1,752 mass cat incidents last year, up from 1,045 mass cat incidents in 2024 and 613 in 2021, and said around 20,000 cats were taken into RSPCA care in 2025.
For anyone who finds animals left in boxes or crates, the immediate step is to get them to help quickly and pass any details to the RSPCA. In this case, CCTV and the public report are the two leads now carrying the investigation forward.
