Taking care of purrrrfect little animals

Tash Tatton has a passion for cats, she loves and feeds these magical little creatures daily.

“I have loved cats, since my first cat when I was 9 years old. I started feeding Misty, a grey feral cat at the casino five years ago. Since then, I now have an entire colony of cats, between 19 to 21 which I feed daily,” Tash said with love in her eyes.

Tash said that they get four big bowls of food and one bowl fresh water every night in the Prive Parking Area at the casino.

She sterilise cats, ensures necessary vet care and deworms the cats, all at her own cost.

“I do not accept any cash donations, this is very important. All money and donations must be paid into an account at Witbank Veterinary Hospital where the cats get sterilised,” Tash continued.

“This all started when I won some money and decided to go to Dr Nolan Landman and Dr Jacqui Hooton of Witbank Veterinary Hospital and discussed a sterilisation project. This was in December 2015. They agreed and gave me a price for the cats and I opened a sterilisation account under my name. I charge the public my own rate, but only to those honestly can not afford the normal vet price, and I pay the balance of each cat after the sterilisation. My project will continue until my money runs out.”

Tash said that she went to the vets, starting at 100 cats but reached it much faster than she intended. She was not satisfied and went back, asking for 100 more cats. She sterilised 114 female cats and 88 male cats, which added to 202 cats from December 2015 to May 2016. She decided to ask the vets again in June last year, and she sterilised 145 female cats and 92 male cats between June and May this year. She sterilised a total of 439 cats since December 2015.

“My sterilisation project was inspired by a heartbreaking fate for kittens not getting homes, being dumped, abused, thrown out of cars or dying of hunger. Feral cats are the most neglected and their breeding is out of control in some areas. You will not believe what people do to cats and it absolutely breaks my heart,” she said.

She added that people will not leave their children do starve of hunger, or get rid of them in unimaginable ways.

“Then please do not do it to cats. I don’t work at the vet. I’m not an organisation. I’m just a normal person with a huge passion for cats. That’s why I am willing to help people who can not afford the normal rates for sterilisation of any vet. I keep living in the hope that the public will not abuse me, but it sadly still happens from time to time,” Tash added.

She urges the community to take care of their animals, and to not get a pet if you can not afford a vet or inoculations.

“Be prepared to make self sacrifices for your animal if it comes to that. And if you can spoil yourself, you can certainly look after your pet animal responsibly,” she said.

The cats that ate from the plates at Wimpy made huge drama on Facebook, but Tash quickly took the bull by the horns and did something about the problem.

“The Wimpy cats are now fed every day and get fresh water every day since the town drama on Facebook. When I have found a place for relocation, I will trap them, sterilise them and remove them at the same time. The kittens will be taken to the SPCA. For now they will remain by Wimpy, but are now staying away from the tables due to daily food given. A big thank you to the public for helping with donations,” Tash continued.

Her Facebook group is called: Tash Tatton Cat Sterilisation Project (Witbank)

She said that anybody is welcome to join the group. “Do not send me a friend request on my personal profile,” she also pleaded.

Tash can be contacted on 082 689 0069 (whatsapp or sms) and her price for the process is R400 for a female cat and R250 for a male cat. A form must be completed first before the public will get a booking date.

“Anyone who wants to make a difference can either buy food and drop off at Witbank Veterinary Hospital (marked for Tash), or deposit funds directly into the sterilisation account under my name at Witbank Veterinary Hospital (not my personal account). It is very important to know that I do not accept any cash donations under any circumstances,” Tash concluded.

The vet is situated in 9 Geringer Street, Del Judor.

ALSO READ:

https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/96040/july-national-senior-pet-month/

https://www.citizen.co.za/witbank-news/27754/neuter-pets/