On standby for spring kitten crisis
 Date March 2004
Wear Valley, Darlington & Dales Cats Protection branch is on standby for spring kitten crisis.
Wear Valley, Darlington & Dales Cats Protection expressed concerns today over the start of the annual “kitten season”.
During the coming months, the arrival of up to 300 unwanted kittens could push an already overstretched Wear Valley, Darlington & Dales Cats Protection branch to near-bursting point.
Local Cats Protection spokesperson, Marion Maychell said the problem could be particularly bad this year. “Perhaps as a result of the good weather, last year’s kitten season seemed to go on for an unusually long time. Even kittens born late summer or early autumn last year will be sexually mature from early this spring. It is vital therefore that cat owners have their pets neutered now if they haven’t already done so. It really is the only sensible way to reduce the number of unwanted felines in the local area,” Marion Maychell explained.
As a charity committed to a non-euthanasia policy (except on veterinary advice), volunteers will work hard to try and find loving homes for every feline that comes into Cats Protection’s care. But despite the relatively widespread availability of low-cost neutering schemes for pets around the UK, it can be frustrating when some cat owners act irresponsibly and without their pet’s best interest at heart.
“People are sometimes reluctant to have their cat neutered thinking that it’s unmanly or that it’s kinder to let a female cat have one litter of kittens,” said Marion Maychell. “But neutering offers a cat, and its owner, many benefits and is by far the best thing to do. Neutered cats are safer, happier and healthier and make better pets,” she added.
Population control for cats is very important as felines are prolific breeders. A conservative estimate is that one unneutered female cat can produce up to 18 kittens a year, or 20,000 descendants over five years – that’s a lot of good homes to find for any animal welfare charity.
Encouraging the neutering of all cats and kittens not required for breeding is one of Cats Protection’s main aims. Over 5% of all UK domestic cats have been neutered with the help of the charity. Cat owners on a low income who need to have their pet neutered should call Cats Protection’s tel: 01388 776549 or check online at www.catrescuers.com for details of how the charity could assist.
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Note to editors: Issued by Marion Maychell Branch spokesperson from Wear Valley, Darlington & Dales Cats Protection.
Please contact Marion for further information and to arrange a photo opportunity. Contact details – 01388 776549 or 07966653388 mm@mmaychell.freeserve.co.uk
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