Ruislip & Eastcote & Northwood Gazette
Animal Rescue with Marion Garnett
Dedicated animal expert Marion Garnett, founder of the Ealing Animal Charities Fair, continues her column
THEY sounded desperate. I’m talking to Hounslow Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) over which cat to feature and they say they’re inundated with requests for help.
Problems are particularly bad for a variety of reasons. Applications to adopt a cat are low because people are on holiday. They’re short of foster carers. Many are on holiday, particularly those who normally foster a Mum and kittens. People are finding it difficult to afford vet fees. If rehoming centres are full, it leads to more cats being abandoned. Many of these haven’t been neutered and are producing unwanted kittens. Also, when prospective adopters do apply, HAWS say they often want tiny kittens. This rules out many beautiful small kittens who missed out on being adopted when they were tiny and, now, just because they’re a few weeks older, they tend to be overlooked.
But all is not lost. Things we can do to help include, firstly, making sure our cats are neutered. The RSPCA estimate there are currently at least one million unneutered cats in the UK.
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).
To see if you are eligible go to cats.org.uk/c4 and then look at the website to find a vet which participates in the scheme. Alternatively ask your vet if they participate in the scheme. You can also have a cat neutered under the scheme if you live in the required area and the cat is a stray which you have been feeding for at least fourteen days.
Next, we could consider becoming foster carers ourselves. Advantages of fostering include the fosterer receives animal companionship without the worries of permanent ownership. HAWS help with equipment and fund necessary veterinary treatment. You can have an older cat or Mum and kittens.
And, we can help by adopting a rescued animal. To be honest, Bug wouldn’t mind if you considered him. This young boy was found as a stray. Because there was no foster home for him, he’s in the care of HAWS at a vets. He’s called Bug as HAWS say he’s a total Love Bug. He’s very affectionate.
When the vet nurses are working at their desk, he likes to be super close to them. Although he loves people, he doesn’t like other cats. If you could offer Bug a loving home or if you’re interested in fostering, see haws-animals.org.uk or call 020 8560 5443.