A small colony presenting a major challenge!

We get many requests for help each week.  Some are straightforward and we can give advice, lend cages or make other suggestions. But the reality is that we’re overwhelmed. The size of the problem on the island far exceeds our physical capacity and stretched resources. Some concerned tourists and locals are understanding about our plight; others are downright rude when we say sorry we are full. But that’s the reality of the situation, particularly at the height of the kitten season during the summer months. Our Founder, Jacky, gives her thoughts on a recently discovered colony we were alerted to:

I thought it might be insightful to share one of the recent emails I received from a member of the public, to demonstrate what we are up against.  We know this is just the tip of the iceberg – there are many such colonies in quiet corners and abandoned buildings on the island…

‘I am writing to enquire about the process you have in place for people to bring homeless kittens to your safe space.

I had come across a mother with her kittens and had been providing them with some food at their location. They were existing near an abandoned, broken down stone building. A few of the kittens seem to have some inflammation around their eyes.

This morning I went to give them a snack and I saw only the little ones. Looking through the cracks in the door I saw their mother’s lifeless body.

It was simply heartbreaking . . .

Although I have seen a few people caring for some of the adult cats in the area, I have also seen and heard numerous instances of harassment including physical abuse.

These kittens fear humans and live in a state of ongoing stress. Now that their mother is gone they need help.

Could you please respond to this email and let me know if and how you may be able to assist and what I can do in that regard.’

This is a common problem and not easy to solve. A bit more investigation reveals that there is an elderly local woman feeding the cats, but only at night as she has been warned by the local authority that she mustn’t feed there. She keeps the area she can access, which is in a quiet alley, clean and tidy. She puts cardboard on the ground and provides fresh water. We’re trying to find out what the issues are. For the moment, the kitties are being fed but the gates are locked and the dead mother remains there. Inside the gates is a derelict garden, with lots of debris and broken glass. The cats are not human-friendly but there are at least three other mother cats with kittens. A sterilisation programme is urgently needed.

The issues we face and our plans

• How to help without frightening the woman who is feeding
• How to find out who owns the derelict buildings to gain access and clean dangerous debris.
• How to ‘persuade’ the local authority to face up to their responsibilities – they are supposed to take care of stray animals on the island.
• We can intervene and sterilise, as the cats are being fed on the street, but they will not be easy to catch and it will require several days of trapping and return visits later to neuter the young ones.
• There is a cost to their neutering and it’s likely many of them would need medical treatment too. Local people on low wages or pensions cannot afford even subsidised veterinary treatment.

In reality, each of around 20 cats needs to be trapped, sterilised, vaccinated, given parasite treatment, ideally microchipped, the females kept safe until they are recovered and can be released, the kittens treated for eye infections and maybe some emergency dental work and antibiotics for those with infections.

If we can raise the funds, we can do it – but it’s not an easy fix!

If you can help us with a donation, we might be just be able to intervene and vastly improve the chances for these kittens!