4Paws animal rescue gives hope to a stray cat family fighting to survive
A concerned resident’s call led the non-profit animal rescue to a struggling mother cat and her five kittens living in the streets. They now seek donations to continue their pawsome work.
A Fourways based animal rescue, 4Paws, recently rescued a mother cat struggling to survive on the streets with five kittens of three different ages, touching the hearts of animal lovers.
According to Merinda Prinsloo, the founder of the animal rescue, the cats were discovered after a concerned resident contacted 4Paws about the exhausted mother desperately trying to care for her kittens in harsh outdoor conditions.
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“The kittens’ different ages suggested the mother had been surviving on the streets for a long time, giving birth to multiple kittens while fighting daily to protect and feed them.”
She said they responded quickly, trapping the mother and all five kittens before rushing them to a veterinarian for urgent medical care. The cats family was later moved to the shelter’s recovery area, where, for the first time in months, the mother cat was finally able to rest peacefully.
“She was no longer curled up protectively or constantly alert for danger. She could finally stretch out and sleep warmly with all her kittens safely beside her.”
Prinsloo said cases involving abandoned and stray animals are becoming increasingly common in the Fourways area. “Economic pressures, unsterilised pets, and irresponsible pet ownership is contributing to the growing number of animals left homeless and vulnerable.”
The lack of resources needed to respond to emergencies, provide medical treatment, and care for rescued animals, remains the biggest challenge for the animal rescue. “Finances. We have to test for feline diseases, deworm, vaccinate, and sterilise them before we can bring them into our shelter, so it costs us around R1 800 per cat.”
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Prinsloo said that is why public donations are essential in helping them continue their rescue work. Donations assist with veterinary bills, food, vaccinations, sterilisation procedures, and providing safe shelter for vulnerable animals.
She also urged community members to take responsible pet ownership seriously by sterilising pets and ensuring animals are not abandoned.“ Sterilisation is one of the most important ways to prevent suffering and reduce the number of unwanted animals on the streets.”
To support and contribute to the organisation’s lifesaving work, contact 083 377 3219, or email: merinda@4ourpaws.org.za.
Residents who are unable to donate financially can still help by fostering animals, volunteering at shelters, reporting stray or injured animals, and spreading awareness about adoption and responsible pet care.
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