Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
IT TAKES a special sort of person to take eleven needy cats into their home, even if it’s only temporary. But that’s exactly what this foster carer did.
We’ve met this amazing lady before when we heard how, when she was getting ready for bed one night last January, the pregnant cat, Queenie, she was fostering for Hounslow Animal Welfare Society ( HAWS) went into labour and she stayed up all night with the labouring mum.
After Queenie and her kittens were safely homed, the foster carer thought she would have a break from fostering when, what do you think happened?
She heard a foster carer was urgently needed for two mums and nine kittens who had been abandoned together in a box at a vets. And she knew, in her heart, this job was for her.
She has done a brilliant job. Eight kittens have already been homed leaving one kitten, Misty and the two mums Cassie and Sapphire still looking for homes.
Nobody knows anything about the background of these cats.
They didn’t even know which kitten belonged to which mum. But the foster carer says it didn’t matter.
All nine kittens played, fed and slept together. The two mums just groomed whichever kitten they thought needed a wash. And, as both mums had milk, the kittens were able to feed from whichever mum they wanted. They could have their starter from one mum and their main course from the other.
HAWS are wanting to home all three cats and would like to home, the kitten, Misty with one of the mums who are, themselves, only about one year old. They are all friendly.
If you can offer any of this gorgeous family a loving home, see details at haws-animals.org.uk or call 020 8560 5443. For more pictures, have a look at the Facebook page “Biskit’s Mummy” where the foster carer has wonderful pictures of all three.
Finally, as the foster carer has experienced, having nine kittens on your knee at the same time might sound fun but they all have to be found good homes.
Animal welfare societies are working flat out finding good homes for needy animals.
The abandonment of these cats and kittens emphasises the importance of having your cat neutered.
Don’t forget that, if money is tight, you may be eligible to have your cat neutered free under the London Cat Care and Control Consortium Scheme (C4 scheme). See details at cats.org.uk/C4. Alternatively ask your vet if they participate in the scheme.