Not only does the Cobham-based charity have to cope with the lustful toms and the consequences of their amorous feelings, but it fights to save the lives of cats discarded by cruel owners.

On April 13, a passer-by found a cat locked in a carrier in Oxshott woods.

Ann Knowles, owner of the cattery, said: “Judging from the state of the cat, and how dehydrated it was, we think it had been there a number of days.

“He’s a lovely big, soppy, black-and-white cat. A fluffy persian.

“We’ve named him Joseph after the man who found him.”

Mrs Knowles said people were doing this more and more often. So much so that, on occasion, shelters have to turn cats away.

On Good Friday, two highly-stressed and thirsty cats were also found dumped on the shelter’s doorstep.

Mrs Knowles had gone back to collect the post she had forgotten the day before and found the sisters by chance.

Locked in a plastic container with no breathing holes, the sisters, which have been named Ruby and Freckles, were lucky to be alive.

“I don’t think there would have been much air for very long,” said Mrs Knowles. “But they are fit and well now and have had a health check.”

The un-neutered pair are probably about one year old.

A lack of neutering and castration among our furry friends not only means the feline population may rocket, but that tom-cats, guided by their hormones rather than their heads, end up in a terrible state.

Mrs Knowles  said: “We get endless young toms. Because they aren’t castrated, they start wandering for girls.

“They don’t even bother to eat. They come to us in the most indescribable state. If they are neutered, they lose that urge.”

She said it was antisocial of owners not to neuter the cats.

So far this year, the shelter’s catcher has picked up 38 strays, including a mother that had her babies under a shed.

Katz Castle has about 40 cats for rehoming at any one time, and a total of 60 in its care.

Robert, a 17-year-old white Liverpudlian, has lived at the shelter for six years, having been brought in after a road accident.

The shelter is run by volunteers and has staff on-site 24 hours a day. There is also a boarding cattery, which helps fund the upkeep of the centre and its vets bills.

Katz Castle is holding an open day on Sunday between 10am and 4pm. It will provide an insight into the workings of the centre and provide a chance to meet the animals.

Stalls will be selling goods and refreshments, and people coming along to the event will be supporting the work with the animals.

For more information on Katz Castle, its neutering services, or to donate to the shelter, call 01932 864232.