Ballito’s ferals find safe haven in hearts of cat-loving guardians

For the past 17 years, Ballito’s feral cat colonies have known the love of one fiercely dedicated woman.

Seaward Estate’s Sharon Cossey has a history of loving cats and with the help of her current 21 volunteers has cared for feral cat colonies for nearly 32 years, first on her own and then through the Feline Feral Fund.

Operating the non-profit has not been easy, Sharon admits, and now has come the time to hang up her mantle, she says, in the hopes of finding someone who will take over from her.

So many years of caring for unwanted, abused, dumped and forgotten cats leaves a deep mark, but Sharon hopes to inspire others to be kind to animals in need.

The most common problem, she says, has been people walking dogs without leashes, often resulting in the cats being torn to shreds.

Recently stray dogs attacked and mauled two cats which were part of Ballito’s oldest colony at La Montagne.

“People need to respect these animals. They are not there to be abused,” she says, adding that with the help of her youngest volunteer, a 10-year-old child, the future is looking bright.

Although the colony at La Montagne has now been reduced to zero, Sharon says it will not be long before another forms.

This however, is not a bad thing she says, as feral cats help control the rodent and snake populations.

The team have sterilised more than 3 000 cats and recused, sterilised and fostered more than 1 000 kittens.

Having started with around 9 colonies 17 years ago, this number has since been reduced to 6 through education campaigns and sterilisation.

Currently, volunteers oversee 10 colonies throughout Ballito, and feed about 350 cats a night – volunteers also report on the health conditions of the ferals, to get them help when needed.

Although satisfied to see their work pay off, Sharon adds that the effect has taken its toll, having walked a journey with each feral cat.

Most recently, Ballito’s oldest feral cat, Kinks, was euthanised after more than 17 years.

Black cat Kinks was one of the original 10 cats living along the promenade when Sharon first started feeding, trapping and sterilising them.

The loss of Kinks broke Sharon’s heart, who says that animals have a tendency of understanding when they are needed – especially during times of hardships for their human companions.

“These cats have become like children to me and our volunteers. 

“Deworming and sterilising animals so often is not cheap, and we owe huge thanks to the generosity of Aloe Vet’s Dr Jeremy Lamb as well, including our few resident sponsors.”

To contact Sharon for more information, or to become involved as a volunteer, call her at 072 266 9171.