An animal charity is offering a free neutering service from next month until the end of January to stop cat numbers spiralling out of control nationwide.
Cats Protection neuters 100,000 cats each year nationwide, but calculates that a single female can have as many as 20,000 kittens in five years.
The feline population has risen by more than 22 per cent in a decade.
One tom is capable of impregnating hundreds of females each year.
Announcing the neutering scheme, Janet Grant, of Oxford and District Cats Protection, said: "We advocate responsible pet ownership and feel money should not be a barrier to providing good standards of care."
Neutering is done when cats are about six months old.
Application forms are available at vets' surgeries.
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules hereComments are closed on this article