HAMPSHIRE had the second highest number of calls with concerns for the welfare of cats in the south last year.

More than 3,200 calls were made to the RSPCA's cruelty line in Hampshire in 2018.

Across England and Wales the charity received more than 100,000 calls and rescues more cats than any other animal whether this is moggies stuck in tight spots, to cats that have been abandoned or neglected and abused.

The RSPCA has revealed there were 16,200 calls coming through to its cruelty line from the South East last year with concerns for the welfare of cats - which is two calls every hour.

A total of 3,298 of those calls were made in Hampshire.

Alice Potter, RSPCA’s cat welfare expert said: “It’s sad to see that we have received so many calls about cats in need. Cats end up needing our help for a variety of reasons, for example their natural curiosity can mean they need rescuing when they get into scrapes and tricky situations.

"There are also some real issues that we see time and again including cats and kittens being abandoned, cats having unplanned and unwanted pregnancies due to a lack of neutering and multi-cat households where breeding has sadly become out of control.

“However, there are many cats who are much luckier and are very much a part of the family and loved by their owners who understand their likes and dislikes, their little quirks and routines.

"Every cat is an individual but there are some signs we can look out for to see how our cats are feeling through understanding their body language and behaviour to ensure they are happy and healthy.”

The charity suggests that cats who are feeling anxious or fearful often like to hide away - this can help them cope better.

Always ensure your cat has lots of cosy hiding places around the house.

A cat who is feeling friendly and happy to meet you will approach with their tail held upright with the tip of the tail curved.

Look out for any changes in your cats usual behaviour, for example changes to their eating toileting or sleeping habits - any change may indicate that something isn’t right and you may need to seek advice from your vet.