Organisation for feral cats in Secunda celebrate their first birthday
All too often the team also encounters stray cats, many of them dumped by their owners and left to fend for themselves. These also include newborn kittens.
SECUNDA – In just one year, Feral Watch TNR managed to sterilise more than 400 cats.
This non-profitable organisation celebrated their first birthday on 22 March by delivering cup cakes to all the vets’ offices in the area as thank you gesture for the support throughout the year.
Feral Watch TNR’s main aim is to keep the area’s feral cat colonies’ numbers at bay by trapping and sterilising the animals, and then releasing them back into their colonies.
They also keep a watchful eye on the health and well-being of these animals.
Ms Nicolette van Zyl, founder of the organisation, said it is imperative for the welfare of the entire colony to return these wild cats back to their colonies.
They also keep a watchful eye on their health.
“Most feral cats cannot be domesticated. They live according to a hierarchy and the males fight for dominance. If the alpha-male, or even most of the colony is removed, others will move in.”
Removing a cat from its colony is also very stressful for the animal.
Ms Van Zyl said feral cats’ do not have immune systems and their health is often compromised.
All too often the team also encounters stray cats, many of them dumped by their owners and left to fend for themselves. These also include newborn kittens.
“We have seen extreme cases of cruelty towards cats and it is heartbreaking,” said Ms Van Zyl.
The team also includes foster mothers who specifically raise rescued kittens. They nurse the babies with bottles filled with kitty milk and will spend hours caring for these tiny creatures that demand to be fed around the clock.
Now the awaited kitten season started. Some of these feral kittens will not survive, because autumn has arrived and temperatures are dropping, viral infections and secondary bacterial infections will claim at least two in each feral litter of about five kittens.
The female will be scavenging for food to maintain a good nutritional milk supply and she will leave her newborns from about three days old for short periods to eat, and travel for food.
Ms Van Zyl said it is very important for people not to remove the kittens. “Call us when you are in doubt.”
Ms Van Zyl asked the community to contribute towards the birthday funds of Feral Watch TNR.
There is always need for Royal Kitten milk and pellets for the tiny ones.
“My wish for this organisation is to celebrate each life we touch, whether happy or sad. We have made a difference to those, may we never forget why we are devoted to the voiceless, and that each new day brings new hope.”
“My dream became our dream and as a network of people we are building on this dream. May we never doubt in our abilities to change the world, if not the whole world, the world of one cat at a time. And every one cat, we celebrate their live as a brand new chapter.”
Ms Van Zyl invited the public to be part of their birthday celebration by gifting one cat, the gift of a new chapter in their lives, by donating R20 towards the care of these cats.
“Our priority is to curb the breeding and birth of innocent kittens into the harsh real world out here. We try to improve the quality of their lives, by de-worming, feeding and immediate medical attention when needed. We don’t wait, we act.”
