THE RSPCA is urging residents in Greater Manchester to be careful when buying a feline friend.

This year the chairy has dealt with 2,368 incidents involving cats across the city region.

There are growing fears that there will be a rise in incidents as more people buy kittens during lockdown, only to be unable to look after them in the future.

The charity is encouraging people to look into adoption instead.

Alice Potter, the RSPCA’s cat welfare expert, said: “It’s fantastic that so many people are interested in bringing a cat into their home this year.

"However, with such high increases in people searching for kittens online, it’s important that prospective owners are doing their research and not buying a kitten on impulse.

"This means making sure they have the time, money and resources to care for a cat for the rest of their lives, but also ensuring that if buying a kitten they are buying a healthy and happy kitten from a responsible breeder."