Kildare Rescue Tails: Dealing with feral cat colonies humanely

THE KWWSPCA operates a TNR service (Trap/Neuter/Return) as a humane method of controlling feral cat colonies and giving these cats a healthier life. Our team of volunteers can trap a cat humanely, bring it to the vet for neutering or spaying and then return the cat to the exact location where it was trapped.

It is important to return to exactly where they took the cat so that the cat can easily recognize the places that they know and where they have marked their territory.

During surgery, the vet will make a nip in the cat’s ear. This ‘eartip’ is the best method of identifying in the future that the cat has been neutered.

In some cases, if the cat is friendly and receptive to human contact, we try to find a new domestic home for the cat rather than returning it to the wild. If kittens are found in a feral location and are young enough to be tamed, they will also be rehomed as domestic cats.

There are so many benefits to TNR: neutering/spaying helps to extend the lifespan and quality of life of cats; Tomcats do not spray and will be more pleasant and relaxed in themselves; they no longer receive injuries resulting from fighting with competing males; female cats that are spayed benefit from a reduced risk of mammary cancer and continued unwanted pregnancies.

When you consider that a female cat can have up to three litters in one year, usually producing three to five kittens in each litter, then it is easy to see how the population can increase so rapidly.

We are fortunate to have many dedicated volunteers who spend hours in all kinds of weather conditions trapping the cats in order to stop the continuous cycle of unwanted kittens being born in the wild.

Cavana has just arrived to us heavily pregnant and is due her babies shortly. A very kind lady called Anne went to great lengths to ensure she would have her kittens in safety.

Cavana and her soon to be new family will be in foster care for the immediate future and when ready will be advertised for homing.

This is just one of many cases to come into the care of KWWSPCA.

The KWWSPCA is a registered charity no. CHY 6280 and can be contacted at kwwspca@gmail.com.

All our details can be found at www.kwwspca.ie.