Estates ‘riddled’ with feral cats and kittens

The Cavan Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (CSPCA) has issued an urgent appeal to find "forever homes" for rescue cats and kittens.

It comes as the animal welfare organisation has more than thirty cats in its care and is struggling to cope.

CSPCA Chairperson Tina Boylan is also urging pet owners to get their cats neutered or spayed once they are six months old to prevent unwanted kittens.

“This is a mad season for cats and kittens turning up everywhere,” Tina detailed.

“They will just breed and breed and have two or three litters at least per year,” she warned.

Within a year and a half, there could be a build-up of at least 22 kittens.

“There’s nowhere going to keep taking them in, once we’re full we’re full,” she reminded.

Volunteers have often come across cases where up to 16 cats could be breeding.

Tina herself has 19 cats and kittens, with different foster carers with five or six each.

“A lot of the cats are wild,” she said.

Cats can be found in “varying” conditions, with the majority found in housing estates, hay sheds, alongside the road or in older people’s homes where they are no longer able to look after them.

“Every housing estate in Cavan is riddled with feral cats and kittens.”

She said some animals are found with “dirty eyes” and “snotty noses”. They can be inbred or have cat flu.

Tina said many people do not realise there is a problem until the cat is unable to move.

“There are little wild kittens that are too sick to run from you,” Tina explained.

“We often find them with their eyes stuck together shut.

“They can’t see where they are going, they can’t smell anything, they can’t eat.”

She stressed the animals are “really really sick” when they are in this condition and urged people not to wait until this stage to report to the CSPCA.

In some cases, they have to be put to sleep.

Sick cats that come into the CSPCA’s care are fully recovered before they are re-homed.

If a person can provide food, warmth and shelter, they are an ideal candidate to take on a cat or kitten.

“If you take them in, don’t forget they have to be neutered.”

They have "funny and mischievous" kittens who would make "great family pets."

Cat neutering scheme

The CSPCA runs a scheme twice per year in conjunction with local vets where people can get their cats neutered at a reduced rate.

This usually takes place in October and again in February.

“That’s for anyone who can’t afford to get them spayed or neutered,” explained Tina.

Tina said on average “there’d be a kitten turning up a day” at the rescue charity.

“If it’s not coming into me, it’ll be coming into someone else in Cavan SPCA minding it.”

“Some of them are found at two or three days old," she said, detailing they must be hand fed.

There is “huge work involved”.

She said the money “mounts up” and time is also an issue when rehabilitating these cats.

Charity Shop

It's a worrying time for the organisation, which has been forced to close the CSPCA Charity Shop, its main source of funding.

“The lease wasn’t properly in Cavan SPCA’s name, it was in a member's name,” Tina explained.

“We hope to open in the future again but I don’t know when that will be.”

She said it may have to re-open in a new premises.

“For the moment we’re relying on the public because there’s very little fundraising going on.”

She asked the public to be patient as they are getting a lot of calls to rescue cats.

“Try and be patient with us if cats and kittens are turning up on your doorstep, we’re doing what we can.”

She said the “big lesson” for people is to not wait until the cat has had kittens to make the call.

Anyone wishing to adopt a cat/kitten can call the CSPCA on 086-8916186.