5th February 2026
RSPCA urges pet owners to seek help and not abandon animals
A cat has been rescued and taken into RSPCA care after she was abandoned in a cat carrier alongside a written note saying 'please take care of Daisy' in a garden in Oxfordshire.
The white feline, aged about two, was found by a resident on their doorstep in Frenchay Road on the morning of Thursday January 15. The finder had no idea who she belonged to and contacted the RSPCA and now Daisy is in the care of the RSPCA Oxfordshire branch.
The emotive note found alongside her said: "Please do take care of Daisy. She is an amazing friend! Love her cat mum xx".
Sharon Chrisp, Operations Manager at the branch, said: "Daisy was left on a doorstep where she could be seen and with a handwritten note, so whoever did this wanted them to be found. Thankfully she is in good health, however it is sad that somebody felt they couldn't look after her after obviously crying for her and so abandoned her like this.
"We know times are tough during the cost of living crisis, but there is help out there for anyone who is worried about looking after their pets - abandoning them isn't the answer as they could come into the wrong hands."
Daisy is now getting the care she needs at the branch and it is hoped she will be rehomed soon once she is more settled. The branch is a separately registered charity and to help care for cats like Daisy it relies on public donations.
The RSPCA's officers are seeing the impact of the cost of living crisis on the frontline with more people abandoning animals, more animals coming into their care, and rehoming is slowing as financial pressures bite.
Reports of animals being abandoned have sky-rocketed by 19% in 2025 (from 23,564 in 2024 to 27,964 in 2025) across England and Wales.
Sharon added: "We understand the financial difficulties some people are experiencing, however abandoning your pet, or not seeking appropriate veterinary help if it's needed, is never acceptable. There is help and support available and we would urge people to contact their vets, local rescues and animal welfare charities."
To help pet-owners who are worrying about financial costs, there is information on the RSPCA's cost of living hub.
If you find a small pet who has been abandoned, take them directly to a local vet or rescue centre. These teams can call in the expertise of our teams if there's evidence that the animal has been neglected or abused. There's more information on how to safely handle and transport an animal on our website.
