3rd National Feral Cat Awareness Week; 11-18th of August 2012

National Feral Cat Awareness Week, an initiative from Feral Cats Ireland, is taking place from the 11th to the 18th of August.  The theme this year is “caring for a feral colony”.  The purpose of this event is to raise awareness for the plight of feral cats in Ireland, and, of course, to encourage the neutering of feral cats. 

Every year, many kittens are born in terrible conditions.  Most of them die at a young age; the ones that survive start reproducing very early in life (a female cat can become active at 16 weeks old).  It is a myth that all these kittens can be rehomed as too many are born for the number of homes available.  Too often, people do not realise at what rapid pace cats can reproduce.  They begin feeding one or two cats and quickly end up with a whole colony.  To prevent the situation to get out of control, there is only one solution: neuter.  Neutering may cost money, but it certainly costs less to neuter one or two cats than to feed an entire colony.  It is also the only humane solution to the problem of over-population.  Putting the cats to sleep is not only inhumane, but it also does not solve the problem.  It was shown that the culling of a colony creates a vacuum effect: the cats are soon replaced by other cats.  It is thus more effective to keep a colony under control by having all the cats neutered.  Moreover, neutering also prevents the suffering of many kittens and the spread of disease.  Cats become healthier and the risk of spreading infectious diseases such as FIV (feline AIDS) and FeLV (feline Leukemia) are much lower since these diseases are transmitted through deep bite, which occurs during mating and fighting.

In order to support this campaign, a number of vets in county Cork have agreed to offer a discounted rate to the public for the neutering of feral cats (see list below).  Local groups are available to help you to humanely trap the cat if you cannot catch it yourself.  Please contact us or Cork Cat Action Trust, Mallow Animal Rescue, RAWR (Bantry) and Animal Rescue Cobh for more information.

Community Cats Network will be holding a few information tables to mark the beginning of Feral Cat Awareness Week.  You can come to visit us at the following stores if you would like more information:

• 10th & 11th: Hosford’s Garden Centre (Enniskeane)
• 10th & 11th: Hanley’s Garden Centre (Kinsale Roundabout, Cork)
• 10th & 11th: Pet Stop (Kinsale Roundabout, Cork)

Please, help us to spread the word in Cork by printing the poster below and placing it in shops, work places, etc.

You can also show your support to feral cats by signing the petition asking to have all cats included in the new Animal Welfare bill.

List of participating vets in county Cork (please, call to enquire about the rates available):

City:

• The Cat Hospital (Glanmire): 021 4824601
• Cashman O’Driscoll Veterinary Clinic (Glanmire): 021 4821243
• Sunbeam Veterinary Hospital (Blackpool): 021 4391600
• Animal Care Hospital (Douglas): 021 4893033
• Riverview Veterinary Group (Ballincollig): 021 4874879
• Riverview Veterinary Group (Carrigline): 021 4375628

East:

• Cloyne Veterinary Clinic (Cloyne, Midleton): 021 4651464
• Knockgriffin Veterinary Hospital (Midleton): 021 4613672
• Blue Coast (Youghal): 024 82500
• Cashman O’Driscoll Veterinary Clinic (Cobh)

North:

• Acorn Veterinary Clinic (Mallow and Kildorrery): 022 43862
• Duntahane Veterinary Clinic (Fermoy): 025 32501

West:

• Glasslyn Vets (Bandon): 023 8841404
• Glasslyn Vets (Kinsale): 021 4772277
• Riverview Veterinary Group (Bandon): 023 8841503
• Riverview Veteriry Group (Kinsale): 021 4375628
• Brookpark Veterinary Hospital (Dunmanway): 023 8845777
• Fachtna Collins (Bantry), please refer to RAWR: 086 8443244
• Castlelands Vets (Skibbereen): 028 22211