Stray Mum & Her Nine Kittens Rescued - Meet Candy & Co
It’s Sunday evening and after an ever-busy weekend, the message comes through. Who can collect a mum and two litters of kittens from a garden? The message continues. There are 9 kittens and they’re all reasonably friendly with their feeder and look healthy. Great news, usually we’re wrangling traps and willing kittens to be lured by tempting food, this doesn’t sound too bad. They’re 28 miles away in West London. And there it comes, the challenge. How do we co-ordinate this and get them to the Clinic as soon as possible?
Thanks to a wonderful, long term supporter of CatCuddles, that’s how. It took some co-ordinating but it really makes the difference when the finder is responsive and although a novice, is willing to help.
By Monday afternoon, Candy, Treacle, Biscuit, Nougat, Jellybean, Smartie, Jazzle, Bonbon and Liquorice were at The Catcuddles Cat Clinic in N13 and immediately seen by our lovely Head Vet and Head Vet Nurse. We are already trying to raise much needed funds to support our existing charity funded cats, but we cannot and will not leave vulnerable kittens to the elements for a moment longer than is necessary. If you have not yet had the chance to donate and would like to, the link is https://www.catcuddles.org.uk/donate but otherwise all we ask is you read and share.
They’ve all had health checks and been microchipped and Candy, Treacle and Biscuit have been neutered. Please note, we will only be accepting adoption enquries for this family in 2-3 weeks. Our priority for the moment is to let them settle into domestic life and get to know each of them.
Their story with CatCuddles is only just beginning, but their future could have been very different and well meaning intentions don’t always work out. If you are reading this you probably have an interest in cats, perhaps you have some experience. Feeding suspected stray cats is an act of kindness and a step in the right direction, but just feeding alone and taking no further action to get a cat off the streets isn't enough in the long run.Not all cats are born into gardens of cat savvy people, so please also talk to your friends and family, share the story of Candy and her children, so that perhaps someone who is unsure about what to do, like their feeder was, will reach out for help.
As is always the case rescues are always full and short on funds, that has not changed, but it is our collective responsibility to do our best to help animals in need. Here are some things that might help:
🐾 Reach out to rescues using Cat Chat https://www.catchat.org/index.php.
🐾 Can you help? Can someone you know help? It is a lot easier if there is someone local willing and able to help our volunteers with earning the cat’s trust and getting them into a carrier.
🐾 If there is a stray cat in your area, take steps to see if they’re owned; ask around (easier said than done right now we know), by all means post on social media, but also put up some posters and distribute leaflets in the surrounding streets.
🐾 If you are unsure whether or not the cat is neutered try and get the cat to a vet. Get the cat used to eating only inside a cat carrier with the door off initially, and when the time is right, put the door back on and close it.
🐾 Contact your local rescue to see if trapping a cat is an option. Traps are expensive so if loaning one to you is an option you will usually be asked for a refundable deposit and at the point the cat is in a feeding routine ideally exclusively in a carrier.
🐾 Local vet’s will scan a cat for a microchip and in London stray cats will be neutered at no cost through the C4 scheme.
🐾 For owned cats and other neutering options see our post on free & low cost neutering in Greenwich & Bexley: https://www.facebook.com/notes/the-catcuddles-sanctuary/free-low-cost-neutering-in-greenwich-bexley/2928578487170026/.
🐾 For C4 neutering or to find out how much it costs through our own vet’s contact The Catcuddles Cat Clinic in Palmers Green, N13: https://www.catcuddles.org.uk/cat-clinic-london.