Stone Cradle now home to a feral cat colony
Volunteers need help to capture and re-home feral cat colony.
The burned out husk of the once-popular Stone Cradle restaurant has become home to a feral cat colony.
An estimated 150 to 180 cats, from kittens to adults, are living in the ashen ruins.
Stone Cradle burned down on Sunday 1 November. The thatch roof caught fire which quickly consumed the rest of the building.
High temperatures and strong winds on the day exacerbated the fire, but no one was injured or killed.
Now, an entire colony calls this barren place home.
Some sleep on dustbins, while others make their bed under broken ceiling boards.
Dead cats, both kittens and adults, have been found by volunteers feeding the cat population.
Ananda Gush, a volunteer who has helped capture and re-home some of the cats, says the cats’ situation is dire.
“I first realised the cats might be in trouble after seeing the article in Rekord. When we (Gush and other volunteers) first arrived after the fire, we found a lot of dead cats, mostly kittens. Most died from suspected dehydration. There was no food or water for them,” she says.
“We are now trying to capture, sterilise, and re-home them. This is proving to be extremely difficult. We do this out of our own pockets.”
Gush has called on private and corporate sponsors to help with the cost of feeding and re-homing the cats.
So far, 21 adults and 45 kittens have been caught and are being rehabilitated at a cat sanctuary in Tiegerpoort. Unfortunately, four of the cats have had to be euthanised due to poor health.
Annafré Kreuter, who runs the cat sanctuary as part of Be Wise, Sterlise, says donations are desperately needed.
Kreuter and other volunteers want to build more shelters for the cats from Stone Cradle, but need supplies to do so.
Gush has asked for donations of wooden poles and planks, corrugated metal sheets and wire mesh to build new enclosures, as well as food.
“A big thank you has to go to Annafré, Engela and Clive James, Chariené and Anushke for helping these cats,” she says.
Anyone who wants to donate, help the cats or adopt a cat can phone Annafré Kreuter on 082 371 5777, Ananda Gush on 083 772 4436 or Engela James on 083 468 3143.
Stone Cradle could not be reached for comment.
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