Cat leaves shelter workers in awe after giving birth to staggering number of kittens in one litter
Bridlington, UK - When a cat named Lottie gave birth to nine kittens at once, the shelter staff were utterly amazed!
As the animal rescuers told the BBC from Bridlington, they had never experienced anything like this before.
Their three‑year‑old cat Lottie gave birth to nine kittens at once – four females and five males – in a single litter.
Normally, a cat has around four to six kittens per litter.
"For now, Lottie's whole world is these nine little faces, and we're helping her to keep them warm, clean, fed and safe," shelter manager Sophie Gibbon‑Roles said.
Lottie, who had neither a microchip nor a collar, was found a few weeks ago by a passerby wandering in Wold Newton.
Gibbon-Roles said Lottie has been an "incredibly brave and devoted" mom to her kittens, adding, "It's incredible watching them grow and seeing their different personalities start to come through."
At the same time, she urged cat owners in the area to always spay their pets: "Every unwanted litter adds to the growing number of cats needing homes, placing more pressure on already overwhelmed rescues."
The shelter in Bridlington has cared for 127 cats and kittens so far this year – a 41% increase from the same period last year.
"It's been an exceptionally busy year for cats and kittens. It's been a juggling act from the get-go," Gibbon‑Roles. said. "As soon as one cattery space becomes available, it gets filled up immediately."
"Neutering isn't just about stopping unwanted kittens, it's about preventing a cycle that can lead to suffering,' she added.
Cover photo: RSPCA