A Watford cat charity has said too many cats are dumped for it to help every one in need, after two kittens were abandoned in Cassiobury Park last week.

Catherine Jarvis, spokesman for Cats Protection, said: "The huge number of unwanted cats in the UK puts intense pressure on animal welfare organisations such as Cats Protection and the charity’s national network has its hands full looking after between 5,000 and 6,000 cats at any one time.

"Our branches are run by volunteers who look after cats at their own homes and, therefore, space is limited.

"As we do not put healthy cats to sleep, we have to operate waiting lists for cats needing to come into care and simply cannot help every cat in need, as much as we want to.

"The sad fact is these problems would be avoided if owners neutered their cats at around four months of age when they reach sexual maturity.

"One unneutered female cat can produce up to 18 kittens in one year, or 20,000 descendants in five years, so neutering will reduce the number of unwanted cats in the future."

The two black kittens left in a box outside Cha Cha Cha cafe in Cassiobury Park were taken in by Park Veterinary Centre, in Cassiobury Drive, and have now been re-homed.

For further information on neutering please visit www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/neutering.