The Cat Chronicles: The story of Runaway, six kittens and a hungry gent who’s getting the snip
After months of clever escapes, empty traps and scratched heads, the Boksburg Advertiser’s quest to sterilise a wily feral cat continues, with help from the ever-patient Boksburg SPCA.
The Boksburg Advertiser thanks the Boksburg SPCA for its ongoing assistance during our long and often humorous journey to catch a feral cat for sterilisation.
At the end of July, editor Lana O’Neill noted a tiny kitten walking out of a bush on our property. On closer inspection, the surprise grew – not one, but six kittens were hiding in the shrubbery.
A few weeks before, a beige cat was spotted roaming the premises, and it soon became clear that she was the mother, as the kittens closely resembled her.
The SPCA was promptly alerted and collected the kittens, ensuring they were well cared for.
Since then, the Advertiser, with the SPCA’s guidance, has been trying, unsuccessfully, to catch the elusive mother. She proved to be a particularly clever feline.
Morning after morning, staff found the food from the trap was gone, yet the trap remained empty. Suspecting a faulty trap, it was swapped for another. The mystery was finally solved when Lana saw the cat calmly reach through the gaps in the trap with her paw to steal the food without ever stepping inside.
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The staff tried everything, from covering the trap to placing it inside a cardboard box, but she always outsmarted them.
Eventually, she disappeared altogether, and for a while there was no sign of her.
Recently, however, the cat, dubbed Runaway by Boksburg Advertiser journalist Luccia Mashel, was spotted back at the office, again looking pregnant.
The society came to the rescue once more, providing a cat trap and valuable advice on how to use it effectively. On January 21, success finally seemed within reach when a gorgeous but frightened feral cat was caught.
Unfortunately, it was not Runaway.
Nevertheless, the capture was not in vain. One cat will now be sterilised, preventing further unwanted litters. It may even be the cat responsible for Runaway’s pregnancies.
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The SPCA will sterilise and release the cat, and the Advertiser’s mission to catch Runaway continues, hopeful, determined and with a healthy respect for one very smart cat.
The society reiterates that sterilising animals is the only effective way to stem the tsunami of unwanted animals arriving at its doors.
Call the Boksburg SPCA on 067 409 4267 or 083 763 6311, or visit them on Railway Street.
