An animal centre in North Somercotes has seen a drop in cat admissions due to a small outbreak of cat flu.
The Ark Animal Rescue Centre, based in Donna Nook Road, have had to restrict the number of cats coming in due to the illness.
It comes just a few months after the animal centre was said to be "brimming to its full capacity" with almost 100 cats on site.
It also follows news that a horse rescue centre in Bransby, near Lincoln, is struggling to cope with the number of unwanted horses that are being dumped in fields across the county.
It has also been revealed that 635 stray dogs were taken off the streets of North East Lincolnshire last year.
The unexpected rise in cats also meant the North Somercotes centre was running low on cat food, which was resolved thanks to generous public donations.
Laura Morrell, assistant manager at Ark Animal Rescue Centre, said: "Cat admissions are lower this month as we have had a small outbreak of cat flu and so we have had to restrict both ins and outs. Gratefully the rehoming numbers are up as we have had lots of kittens reach eight weeks and also quite a few older cats have found loving new homes.
"The dog admission figures include two dogs that have unfortunately had to be returned. When an animal is adopted from The Ark the adopter signs an agreement which states, along with other things, that if for any reason circumstances change and the adopter is no longer able to care for the animal then it must be returned to The Ark.
"Rocco, a one-year-old beagle cross came back into our care owing to the ill health of his owner as did a 17-year-old jack russell called Midge when his owner sadly had to move into residential accommodation. Both dogs are now happy in their new homes within two weeks of being returned."
Read tomorrow's newspaper for a heart-breaking story on a ten-week-old kitten.
