RSPCA Appeals for Information After Injured Elderly Cat Found Abandoned in Stevenage

The elderly moggy was blind and unable to walk

The RSPCA is appealing for information after an injured cat was found abandoned on an industrial estate in Stevenage last Thursday (10 April).

The grey semi-long-haired cat was discovered in a green cat house on the industrial estate in Wedgewood Way, dragging his back leg when he tried to move, after a member of the public heard him meowing.

On scanning the cat’s microchip, his owners were found – but he had been missing for nearly two years.

RSPCA Animal Rescue Officer (ARO) Rebecca Hood said: “We are a bit confused about how he got there – he was unable to walk and it was an odd place for a cat house to be.

“We have reason to believe he was being looked after, and maybe abandoned due to his injuries.”

The cat was taken to the RSPCA Finsbury Park Animal Hospital, where a vet determined he had a fractured leg and spine – sadly, due to his deteriorating condition, the decision was made to put the cat to sleep to end his suffering.

ARO Rebecca added: “The cat’s left leg was dangling when we picked him up and he seemed in a lot of pain, although he was very friendly.

“The area he was found in has a fair amount of footfall, people coming and going from work and passing cars, so we’re hopeful someone may be able to help our inquiries and find out what happened to this cat.”

With no CCTV covering the area the cat was found, the RSPCA is urging anyone who may have seen something on Thursday 10 April between 7am and 1pm to contact them.

Anyone with any information is asked to call the RSPCA appeals line number on 0300 123 8018 and refer to incident number 01489474.

Sadly, numbers of abandoned pets are increasing. In February of this year, 1,702 abandonment incidents were reported to the charity – compared to 1,405 in February 2024.

If you find a small pet who has been abandoned, please take them directly to a local vet or rescue centre who can then call in the expertise of RSPCA teams if there’s evidence that the animal has been neglected or abused. There’s more information on how to safely handle and transport an animal on the RSPCA website.