A WEST Yorkshire RSPCA branch covering Bradford is preparing for a record kitten season following the effects of the pandemic and lockdowns.

To help raise funds to pay for food, vet bills and medicine to help handle the influx, the staff at RSPCA Halifax, Huddersfield, Bradford & District are joining forces with ROKT Foundation to invite people to take on the scratching post challenge on Yorkshire’s highest indoor climbing wall.

April is dubbed as the start of kitten season – when cats are most likely to give birth – but after three lockdowns RSPCA staff fear many cats may not have been neutered and as a result the charity could face their busiest wave of cats and kittens ever.

The costs associated with looking after so many rescued animals are higher than ever, so the RSPCA branch is appealing for people to sign up for the fundraiser at ROKT in Brighouse on April 1 to generate much needed income through a day of sponsored climbs – dubbed the scratching post challenge as a link to cats’ love of climbing.

Katie Kinsella, ROKT Foundation’s spokesperson, said: “Cats love to climb and so do we, so it’s a perfect partnership to raise funds.

To sign up for the challenge visit rspcahalifaxhuddersfieldbradford.org.uk/the-scratching-post-challenge