The RSPCA is giving away free cats this festive season, revealing it currently has the highest number of felines in its care ever.

More than 650 cats and kittens are at the RSPCA South Australia, a 16 per cent increase on the number in care at this time last year.

The organisation says a total of 190 adult cats are among those being looked after, most of which were surrendered by their owners.

There are also 479 kittens in care, many of which were heartlessly dumped.

'Open hearts'

Over the next 12 days leading up to Christmas, RSPCA South Australia is dropping the adoption fee for cats over 6 months old, hoping to give some of its long-term residents a loving new home.

RSPCA South Australia’s Tim Charles hopes the no-fee offer will be the incentive people need to open up their homes and hearts to a friendly feline this Christmas.

All cats and kittens available to adopt from RSPCA are desexed, vaccinated, microchipped and vet-checked.

Two-year-old Gigi has been patiently awaiting her forever home for more than two months. Credit: RSPCA SA

11-month-old Bob is also looking for a home. Credit: RSPCA SA

“Cats come to us for a variety of reasons, none of them their fault, and the best Christmas present for them, and the dedicated staff and volunteers who care for them, would be a loving new home,” Charles said.

“Our rescue officers continue to find kittens in shocking circumstances, such as dumped in boxes or left wandering beside busy roads."

“Most of them are living with our wonderful volunteer foster carers because they’re too young to be desexed and made available to adopt.

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“Our message is that, like dogs, every cat deserves a responsible owner – that is the primary goal of our recently released cat management plan, a joint initiative with the Animal Welfare League.

“As a compassionate community, we must continue to work together towards far better welfare outcomes for cats than we are currently seeing.”

For the full list of cats available for adoption, head here

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