The centre, in Dalby Lees, Ashbourne, is currently bursting at the seams, with numbers rising as pregnant cats in care give birth to new litters. Unneutered cats continue to be a problem in the area and it is an issue staff and volunteers are keen to highlight.

While they have little trouble finding homes for cute kittens there are many older felines who get over-looked and end up staying in care for long periods.

Black-and-white Robyn was adopted from the centre in 2017 but went missing shortly after, with no sign off her since turning up again at the end of last year, with a scan of her microchip revealing she did have an owner.

Unfortunately, there was no happy reuniting story as her owner was not in a position to take her back. It is believed Robyn had been living as a stray in the intervening years as she was in a sorry state. She has since undergone dental surgery to remove rotten teeth and has been placed on a sensitive food diet which she will need to stay on.

Centre Manager Helen Wood said: “Robyn has had a tough few years and is a timid lady who will need some time to settle in. She will need to go to a quiet home, where she will be given time to learn to trust again. After such a rocky start in life, she really deserves to be able to find a home she can call her own.”

Other cats who find themselves still in care after more than 100 days, include:

• Beauty – a black-and-white female who came into care after her owner became too ill to look after her. The five-year-old is an independent soul who likes a fuss, but will let you know when she has had enough.
• Ginger and Roger – Ginger,12, has had a number of health issues, including having his thyroid removed. Roger, 10, had to have dental work, and both are on special renal diets. They are used to a quiet home and are extremely close so need to stay together.
• Buffy – A shy seven-year-old who is finding life in an adoption centre difficult. She needs a home with no other pets, where she can sit and watch the world go by.

The centre currently has 11 kitten litters, with one born to a cat of who was just eight months old herself.

Helen said: “The number of cats we have at the centre already waiting for new homes shows the need to control cat population numbers. People still don’t always realise how easy it is for cats to fall pregnant, and from such a young age. These young cats that are giving birth do not have the skills to bring up their own litter and often the kittens need to be hand-reared.

“The cost-of-living crisis has no doubt affected neutering but leaving a cat unneutered could eventually lead to higher vet costs. Neutered males are less likely to roam, which reduces the risk of them being involved in road traffic incidents and displaying territorial behaviour such as fighting, which assists in reducing the risk of injury or serious diseases such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) or Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV).”

Cats Protection provides financial support for cat owners who are on a low wage or benefits through the East Midlands Neuter and Chip Campaign, a voucher scheme offering £10 neutering and microchipping at participating vets. The charity annually helps neuter 134,000 cats and kittens a year, including 16,500 ferals.

Visit Cats Protection's Derby Adoption Centre website to find out more about the centre and to enquire about adopting any of the cats in care, or call 01332 824950.