Unneutered cats...

[Hedgehoggy]

I apologise in advance that this isn’t the correct location to place this thread, but as it will target a much wider audience here than in the Treehouse, even if it can be left in-situ for just a little while before being justifiably moved, it might have some beneficial effect, especially as the subject does have some impact on our native wildlife....

I’m appealing to all cat owners out there who have unneutered cats at home to please consider getting them neutered. The CPL/other cat charities in most areas will either fully-fund, or partially-fund, the cost of neutering. The resultant consequences of unneutered cats (male cats particularly) goes largely unnoticed by their owners. Asides from the obvious advantages of neutering e.g. cessation of urine spraying, fighting and wandering long distances in search of receptive females, the CPL and other cat charities wouldn’t be continuously full to the brim with unwanted cats and kittens if every responsible cat owner considerately had their cats neutered.

I wonder how many owners of unneutered male cats are aware of just how many kittens their little Tiddles may have fathered year after year with stray/feral females?

The reason I'm posting this is because I recently had a desperate call for help from a friend to rescue a stray/feral nursing ‘kitten’ and her 3 (two-week old) kittens. The mother was soooo tiny and barely out of kitten hood herself and was found living in somebody’s garden scavenging on the bread chucked out for the birds. CPL and other cat charities were unable to help due to already being full to bursting at the seams, and the RSPCA advised all they could offer was to euthanize the family.

One of the kittens was limp and unresponsive and died within an hour of me bringing them home, despite my best efforts to revive her. I’ve been hand-rearing the surviving two kittens on a mammal milk formula around the clock, giving the mother a chance to recuperate and feed up, she was pitifully thin and emaciated. A lovely friend kindly stepped in yesterday to adopt the two kittens (who are thriving) and continue with their care, so I can concentrate on the mother, and get some much needed sleep! ‘Mum’ is booked in to my vets to be spayed once her milk has completely dried up.

Before anybody chirps up with ‘you should’ve let RSPCA euthanize them’, the answer to that comment is simple. In my defence, I couldn’t turn my back on any suffering animal in need of help, regardless of species. I’ve also taken in many injured and sick birds over the years, not just hedgehogs!

Apologies for my long post, I just needed to vent my frustration on an all-too-frequent scenario which wouldn’t have transpired if everybody had the good sense to neuter their cats.

Rant over. I’ll get back to concentrating on hedgehog rehabbing now.

[Fauna]

Totally agree with you here Hedgehoggy...and i suppose more than half of Britain would to?

There are many reasons why i agree with you here. My main being to save the Scottish Wildcat, we harp on about endangered animals in other countries yet many seem to turn a blind eye to our own...cats should not be roaming free unneutered

Cairngorms Wildcat Project - Highland Tiger : The Scottish Wildcat

[HedgehogRescue]

Completely agreed. I have cats myself but have lost count of the number of ferals round here that I've trapped and taken to my vet for the snip. I've tackled a number of owners about their cats and you just get this ridiculous assertion that all cats need to have at least one litter.

The law in this country needs to be changed on pets so that unless you are a registered breeder they must be neutered. Every centre is full to bursting. Even a little home based shelter near my mother who normally take around 10 cats have currently got 60. It's ludicrous and all down to so called pet lovers.

[Kayleigh]

I agree with you and dogs should be neutered too there are the same amount of unwanted dogs in the rescue centres too.
But cats do better on the streets than dogs do and the council dog wardens take care of those.
In Scotland it should be made compulsory for owners to neuter cats though I feel its too late..

[captivebolt]

I used to know a lass who had 3 entire Siamese. They only left her flat on leads. I do wish that more people realised that cats will happily walk on leads if they are introduced to them as tiny kittens.

Captivebolt

[HedgehogRescue]

My two Siamese wouldn't. No matter what I did. From word go they both used to throw themselves onto their backs and stay there. If I wanted them to move I ended up dragging them along the floor.

[Vixen]

FIV is a problem to with un neutered cats.

With all the help there is out there for reduced neuter prices I don't get why people still will not do it. We asked our vet why a neuter was less price than a dentil we had done on one of our ferrets, and he told us most vets make a hugh lose when it comes to neutering, they feel they have to keep the price down to do it or people won't bother. My vets is currently doing free neutering through the local cats protection, but i bet there are still that can't be bothered.

[Kayleigh]

Originally Posted by Vixen

FIV is a problem to with un neutered cats.

With all the help there is out there for reduced neuter prices I don't get why people still will not do it. We asked our vet why a neuter was less price than a dentil we had done on one of our ferrets, and he told us most vets make a hugh lose when it comes to neutering, they feel they have to keep the price down to do it or people won't bother. My vets is currently doing free neutering through the local cats protection, but i bet there are still that can't be bothered.

I am saying nothing..

[captivebolt]

Originally Posted by HedgehogRescue

My two Siamese wouldn't. No matter what I did. From word go they both used to throw themselves onto their backs and stay there. If I wanted them to move I ended up dragging them along the floor.

Wow! I had exactly the same experience with my Apso bitches. They were full litter sisters, and I was advised to train them separately. After they had their innoculations I tried to walk them individually on their leads. Ho-Ho it is to joke. They would throw themselves in the air, land flat on their furry backs and stay there. Walking through the village dragging a doglet along by her neck earned me some some very funny looks. In the end, of course, I gave up. Put 'em both on the leads, and guess what? Good as gold. They'd bop along behind me, come to heel, do all they were asked - so long as they were together. Later I got an Apso dog. Yah-di-yah, same old story. First time I put his lead on him, he threw himself in the air, turned a double somersault and landed flat on his back in his water bowl. So I put the leads on the bitches, then on him, and took all three out. No problemo!

Man proposes, pets disposes.

Great little ratters though. I once watched Ishtar see off a big evil black critter with one snap and a headshake. Dam' thing was bigger than she was.

Captivebolt

[Harold Smith]

Sorry Captivebolt but what has Apso bitches to do with unneutered cats? Having Siamese cats on a lead also has nothing to do the original subject! The issue is what to do with unwanted kittens from cats that are roaming free whether they be feral or domestic pets. I agree that were possible neutering of the male and female is one solution. However, my concern is Hedgehoggy's report about the RSPCA suggesting that the kittens be euthanized. Why? If the animals are badly injured or are so ill it may be a justification; otherwise, if they are perfectly fit and healthy every endeavour should be made to ensure the animals are found a suitable home, and that is what I have always understood to be the remit of the RSPCA. For an animal charity, which I have supported for many years, some of their recent policy changes have caused me a great deal of concern. Many people turn to the RSPCA to help them in a time of crisis. Now they are told they will no longer take unwanted or stray animals. So, what are pets owners to do? I suspect what will happen is that many pets owners will abandon their pets which could result in the RSPCA prosecuting the owners despite the fact they asked them for help in the first place.

This is worrying situation which needs to be monitored for the sake of pet owners and the RSPCA.