A staggering 27 kittens are set to arrive at a Cumbrian charity.

Oak Tree Animals' Charity, based near Wetheral, is making the final adjustments before welcoming the latest arrivals.

Charity bosses admit that by October 'kitten season' has usually slowed down, but this year sees no sign of abating, with next week's intake totalling half of all the kittens the charity cared for during the summer.

The number of unwanted kittens has been higher than ever this year and Oak Tree is asking people to consider neutering their cats to help prevent these huge numbers of unwanted, loving animals.

Caroline Johnson, general manager, said: “Every year we expect to see unwanted litters of kittens during the summer months but this year ‘kitten season’ has extended into autumn and we are seeing record numbers of abandoned kittens during this period all desperately needing our support.

"Our community team has been out neutering feral cats and supporting community neutering programmes throughout the summer, neutering more than 100 cats to prevent unwanted kittens and we are asking private owners to help us by considering neutering their cats.

"An additional 50 kittens have been admitted into the centre already this summer looking for new homes.

"The unwanted kittens that get handed into Oak Tree are the lucky ones, they have the veterinary support, socialisation and care needed to help them find loving new homes. However, many are not so fortunate.”

Caroline said that caring for each kitten can cost the charity more than £200, and thanked the volunteers and supporters who help make it possible.

Anne-Marie McGivern, vet nurse supervisor at Oak Tree, said: “Neutering really is the only way to prevent the number of unwanted and abandoned cats we see in Cumbria.

"It is a routine procedure with immense health benefits for cats and also owners, who will have cats who are not getting into fights, spraying, enduring unwanted pregnancies and, with a less risky lifestyle, neutered cats tend to live longer.

"Cats can become pregnant from four months of age, with an un-neutered female cat able to be responsible for up to 20,000 descendants in just 6 years.

"Timely neutering really is key.”

For more information about rehoming kittens, cats or other animals from Oak Tree, visit www.oaktreeanimals.org.uk or search for the charity on Facebook, Instagram or Twitter.