This Halloween the RSPCA appeals to find homes for three fang-tastic cats

The RSPCA has launched a special appeal this Halloween to find a home for a trio of cats, Count, Dracula and Vamp.

They came into the care of the RSPCA in September after they were sadly abandoned in a property in Bolton and rescued by an RSPCA inspector.

Now they are being cared for by the RSPCA Bury, Oldham & District Branch.

Count is an all black three-year-old male, Dracula is a black and white three-year-old male and Vamp is a black and white two-year-old female.

The three of them are extremely bonded and get spooked even when they are separated for just a short period of time; so the RSPCA is looking for a special owner who can bring all three of these fang-tastic cats into their home.

Louise Ayton, senior animal care assistant at the branch in Greater Manchester, said: “We understand in the current climate while people are struggling financially that this is a big ask to rehome three cats but we really hope someone out there will have the time, money and space to adopt these lovely cats.”

Count is the most nervous of the three and sometimes stays under his bed in the cattery but with a bit of time and patience, he will come out for a chin scratch and start to purr. The other two are very friendly and enjoy some fuss.

They would like to go to a home with no other cats, but could live with a family with secondary school aged children or older, and they will need access to the outdoors so they can eventually explore.

Louise added: “It sucks that Count, Dracula and Vamp have been waiting for such a long time to find their forever home and we’re really not sure why they haven’t had more of a fang club. At the cattery, we think anyone would be batty not to rehome these cuties!

“They can be a little shy at first but once you get to know them they are friendly and lovely cats and you’ll always be able to count on them to cheer up your day.

“It can take longer for black, and black and white cats, to be rehomed but we have no idea why. Black cats need an image re-vamp as we think they are just beautiful! We hope it doesn’t dawn on them that this might be why they haven’t been adopted yet.”

This week the RSPCA released new figures which show it can take black cats double the amount of time to be rehomed. Between 2019 and 2021, more than 2,000 black cats came into the charity’s 14 national animal centres (this does not include the RSPCA’s large network of branches so actual figures will be higher). The charity rehomed 2,260 black cats during the same period and on average it took 30 days for a black cat to find their forever home compared to 16 days for a grey tabby cat.

Black and white cats are the felines who are more likely to come into the charity’s care (2,770) and they took an average of 28 days to find their forever homes compared to a calico cat which took just 17 days.

The RSPCA’s annual Adoptober rehoming drive, which comes to a close today (31 October), has been promoting adoption and highlighting the many animals the charity has waiting to find their perfect match.

As part of this, the animal welfare charity also released new figures that show rehoming has dropped 8% while animal intake is up 8.4% year-on-year.

The charity fears that the cost of living crisis means more animals are coming into its care while less people are considering taking on a new pet.

To give Count, Dracula and Vamp a loving home contact the RSPCA Bury and Oldham Branch by filling out a perfect match form and emailing it to: reception@rspcaburyandoldham.org.uk.

If you can’t offer a rescue pet a new home perhaps you could help in a different way?

• Become a fosterer for a sick pet recovering from surgery or a youngster who needs to learn how to behave in a home;
• Help us continue rescuing, rehabilitating and rehoming by donating online or calling our donation line on 0300 123 8181;
• Sponsor a cat pod or a dog kennel and help take care of the animals during their stay with us;
• Support the work of your local centre or branch by becoming a volunteer or donating to them directly.