Due to coronavirus, restrictions on neutering has been common in many animal welfare organisations resulting in an increasing number of unwanted litters of kittens.
Four-month old siblings, Star, Jester and Jupiter were handed over to a private vet last month, even though the clinic had no capacity to take animals permanently.
The kittens two-year old mum Deja was also left at a different private vets along with her eleven-week-old kittens, Demi, Dottie, Dudley and Darla just a few days later.
Luckily, London based animal welfare centre, Mayhew had room in their Kitten Block and both feline families were quickly signed over into their care.
A spokesperson for Mayhew said: “Jester’s eye had been treated by the private vet prior to him arriving with us, and thankfully our intake exam showed it was healing nicely and should not pose any issues for Jester in the future.
“Star’s limp had been put down to a possible leg fracture, which we confirmed on intake. Luckily, the x-ray showed the fracture was not too severe and only required cage rest to heal, so we made sure that their little family had a single level cabin and that Jester and Jupiter did not play too rough with her.
“We also settled Deja, Demi, Dottie, Dudley and Darla down in a cosy cabin together, and were pleased to see that mum and kittens were all in excellent health.”
Although these eight cats now have a very good chance of finding their own happily ever afters’ when they are ready to go up for adoption, not every abandoned and unwanted animal will find a forever home.
A Mayhew spokesperson added: “The coronavirus pandemic has drastically reduced the number of neutering operations and other veterinary clinics across London and the UK are able to carry out, and with the threat of Covid-19 looking likely to continue well into 2021, the problems posed by animal overpopulation and abandonment are only set to get worse.
“If you are a pet owner, or a resident aware of a local feral or stray cat colony, please keep an eye out on your local veterinary clinic and animal welfare organisation websites to find out when private and community-based neutering procedures become available again.
“If your cat or dog is not neutered, we strongly advise arranging an appointment as soon as it is safe to do so. Cats can reproduce from four months old and have three to four litters per year, whilst dogs can reproduce from six to 12 months old and have four litters per year.”
For more information on Mayhew’s Trap, Neuter, Return programme visit https://themayhew.org/community-support/trap-neuter-and-return/.
