Stone Cradle cats find temporary home
Shelter takes in feral cats rescued from Stone Cradle.
Some 80 of the 180-odd feral cats that used to live in the burned ruins of the Stone Cradle restaurant in Rietvlei have now found a temporary home at a cat sanctuary in Tiegerpoort.
An estimated 180 feral cats have made home in what is left of the once-popular restaurant and the surrounding fields. Some slept under broken, discarded ceiling boards, some on dirty old dustbins, while others found shelter in sheds.
Ananda Gush, one of the volunteers who helped rescue some of the cats, says their work has only begun.
“We [Gush and other volunteers] have rescued some of the cats and taken them to the sanctuary in Tiegerpoort, but many more still need to be rescued,” she said.
“As soon as we have the cats at the sanctuary, the real work begins. Most of the cats need urgent medical attention and some of the females are pregnant, need to be fed, shelters need to be built for them, and forever homes need to be found.”
A few of the kittens have already died, as their frail stomachs that are not used to any solid food, could not digest the kitten food.
Gush and the other volunteers are trying to rescue the remaining cats, but they say their efforts have been stifled, as they are no longer allowed back onto the property.
“Thanks to a very kind neighbour, we can now feed the cats through an electric fence,” said Gush.
Stone Cradle owner Kevin Coetzee was asked to comment on who fed the remaining cats and on the Stone Cradle repairs. At the time of publication, he was yet to respond.
Gush has reiterated her calls for donations to help the cats.
“We are so thankful to every person who has been so kind to donate food, money and supplies to the cats, but we desperately need more.”
Annafré Kreuiter, who runs the shelter, says they are in need of kitten and adult cat food, supplies (wooden planks and poles, corrugated iron sheets and wire mesh) to build shelters for the cats, and donations towards the immense veterinary bills.
“We are so thankful for all the donations that have come in, but we always need more food. I only sleep soundly when we have enough,” said Kreuiter.
Anyone who wants to donate, help the cats or adopt a cat can phone Ananda Gush on 083-772-4436.
Also read:
Stone Cradle now home to a feral cat colony
Dozens of cats in dire straits
Stone Cradle burns to the ground
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