A Keighley-based charity has released the first in a series of guides aimed at dispelling common myths about cats to curb unwanted breeding and improve animal welfare.

Yorkshire Cat Rescue devised Myths About Matings in response to last year’s record number of unwanted kittens, which put a huge strain on the charity’s resources.

Charity founder Sara Atkinson said: “One of the most common reasons we’re given from people who allow their female cats to have kittens is that they should be allowed to experience motherhood. As romantic as that sounds, there’s no scientific evidence to support it.”

People can go to yorkshire catrescue.org/leaflets_and_ posters to download the guide.