RSPCA appealing for ‘moggie midwives’ this Mother’s Day
The central and north London branch of the RSPCA picks up thousands of cats a year and is in need of people to come forward and help care for the most vulnerable.
The branch has 32 ‘pods’ which can be used by between one to four cats, they also have some trusted foster families who can take cats in to give them a more stable environment.
The pods are full nearly all year round. In 2013 1,465 animals came through the doors of the centre of which 739 were cats and 541 were kittens under six months old.
So far this year the centre has taken in 358 animals of which 231 are cats and 93 are kittens.
Animal Welfare Officer Hayley Plows said: ‘Our branch is always desperate for foster carers in the area, particularly people who have time on their hands and could foster pregnant mums and newborns.
‘We are only right at the beginning of the kitten season and we are already bringing in so many.
‘We are not expecting this summer to be any different from the last which was extremely busy.
‘Foster homes really do give the kittens a much better start in life.
‘Not only does it mean they are away from the cattery which is less stressful for them and also means they are less prone to catch infections like enteritis.
‘Being in a foster home also means they are better socialised and easier for us to rehome.’
AWO Plows also stresses the importance of neutering animals and that stray cats can be neutered for free.
One of the cats, Katie, gave birth to two male and two female kittens on March 12. She is currently living with foster carers but will be up for rehoming once she has finished weaning her kittens in around seven weeks time.
Katie was bought in by an Animal Welfare Officer after being found in a garden in Camden. It was suspected that she was abandoned due to being heavily pregnant, it is unlikely she was feral due to her lovely nature.
AWO Plows says this is quite common when people struggle to know what to do when their cat is pregnant.
Another cat, Minola was picked up at Brixton market, along with another pregnant cat on February 17.
She is now in foster care with her four kittens – one male and three female – that were born on February 26.
It is thought Minola has lived feral all of her life although she is not aggressive. The centre hope to rehome her domestically but she may be relocated to a farm through their sister charity SNIP which advertises homes out in the countryside to provide a safer life for ferals.
Sheeba was collected whilst pregnant along with four other cats – two of which were also pregnant – from a house in Hounslow on February 27.
She is still pregnant and is getting on well at the centre.
Anyone wishing to provide a caring foster home for a cat with kittens or a pregnant cat would receive a starter pack of kitten food and would need to be able to look after them for up to ten weeks.
If you would like to help the RSPCA, you can give £3 now by texting HELP to 78866 (Text costs £3 + one standard network rate message)
Notes to editors:
? If you would like to support the RSPCA by purchasing your Mother’s Day card from us please click on this link. http://shop.rspca.org.uk/charity-gifts-cards/mother-s-day/mother-s-day-charity-gifts-and-cards.html
? The first picture is of Katie, the second of Minola and the final picture shows Sheeba.
? Anyone wishing to contact the branch can use the electronic voicemail service 0207 272 2264.
? For image information ring the press office
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