SPCA joins nationwide campaign for cat adoption
Homeless cats are either lost or dumped pets, cats caught in traps or strays. Photos: Ina Holst.
At a recent open day, the local SPCA got in step with a nationwide “Adopt-A-Thon”, appealing to cat lovers to adopt a pet.
The open day also provided an opportunity for the public to see the new cat shelter at Carol Wells’ home in East Takaka. Carol said she was delighted with the turnout and the interest in the cats.
“The open day was a great PR exercise and at least everybody knows now where the SPCA is. There were lots of people here; every time I looked up the path there were new people arriving and quite a few brought their children. It was very pleasant. People were sitting under the tree, having Devonshire tea and meeting with the committee members. It really brought up the profile of the local SPCA.”
Carol has eight adult cats and six kittens in her care. The organisation was pleased to have one kitten adopted on the day, and she is hoping to hear back from at least two people.
The homeless cats that turn up at the SPCA are either lost or dumped pets, cats caught in traps, or strays, often in desperate need of socialisation and sometimes requiring medical care.
“There are six in here that are badly needing a second chance. The big ginger here is five years old. He is just great. When some of my friends put up the shed together, he lay next to it with all four feet in the air. For an older person who wanted a friend, he would be perfect,” says Carol. “This tabby here is pretty wild, one that was caught in a trap and which has a good chance of making a full recovery. In two weeks I am hoping to be able pick him up—he is already off his guard a bit. You have to get the feral ones very early, between six to eight weeks to successfully socialise them, or they will always have a nervous streak.”
The cat shelter has recently moved from Fay Brownlie’s home back to Carol Wells’ property, where it was first established in 1989.
“You can do this for a while but then you do need a break, and Fay has done this for a very long time,” said Carol. “It does take a few hours every day to care for the cats. I have got myself organised and set myself a routine and it is all well set up. We have a roster for when I get a weekend off and other people are rostered on. It is great to have plenty of other people mixing with the cats.”
The SPCA also works incessantly (ceaselessly?) to educate owners about their responsibilities when choosing to have a pet.
“We are working on convincing people to have their cats spayed, and with a bit of begging and a bit of subsidy most people commit to having their cats spayed. In 1989, when we first started up, we had over 100 cats to be rehomed and we just niggled away, and the next year with the spaying programme in place the numbers dropped to half.”
Vice president Cindy Moul said that people needed to be reminded that pets are members of the family and not a toy.
“It is a responsibility and a commitment to have a pet, and in return you get devotion, love and fun,” said Cindy.
The construction of the new shelter was still on hold, she added and would only take place once all necessary consents and funds were completely sorted out.
Carol Wells can be contacted on 525 9494.
Ina Holst
