Conmmunity Cats
There are dozens of stray cat colonies in North Birmingham, particularly in inner city areas. Meanwhile, the number of willing adopters declines.
Stray cats can be difficult to domesticate, and moving them into a small pen while we try to find them a home is not always in their best interests. Instead, we work with local people to care for these ‘Community Cats’, who can live happy healthy lives if provided with food and shelter.
It is important that all cats are neutered and we can help you to neuter a community/feral cat even if it runs away when you try to approach. We can Trap Neuter and Return (TNR) these cats, using specialist equipment, and return them to the site. This ensures they live happily outdoors without breeding into ever-expanding colonies. We can also provide cat ‘igloos’ for shelter during the winter months for an agreed donation.
Please contact our helpline on 0345 260 1503 and say that you would like help to neuter a feral cat.
It is difficult to imagine when we are curled up under our blankets, with a steaming hot cuppa and a cat resting by our side, that there is a very different kind of cat roaming in the dark. There are many differences between a feral and domestic cat, and while a feral cat may not desire the company of a loving owner or a house to call their own, basic needs such as food and shelter remain the same. We care deeply about all cats and while it may seem harsh or uncaring to not take in a feral, confining any wild animal to a small pen in an environment that is swamped with human activity can be very stressful and overwhelming. It is far less distressing for a feral cats to let them remain free to roam in their own established territory as long as they have a regular feeder and somewhere to shelter.
Below are some links to some other websites with information about feral cats. http://www.catchat.org/feralcats.html Taming feral kittens http://www.cat77.org.uk/cat-care/taming-feral-kittens/ What to do if you find a cat and or kittens. Below are some links with information about what to do if you find a cat and or kitten. Please revisit this page as we will be adding additional information and links. To feed or not to feed - http://www.cat77.org.uk/cat-care/to-feed-or-not-to-feed-2/
What do I do if I find young kittens and don’t see their mother? 
If you find young kittens and don’t see the mother, don’t panic. Your first instinct might be to swoop them up and take them home with you, but that is not always in the best interest of the kittens. Mothers often leave their kittens while they go to find food and water, or to move the litter to a new location. Unless the kittens are in immediate danger it is best not to touch or move them but keep an eye on them from a distance for a few hours to see if the mother returns. Don’t disturb the kittens as this may discourage the mother from returning or she may move them away to a different location. The next step depends on the age of the kittens. How to tell how old a kitten is http://www.alleycat.org/page.aspx?pid=678 If the kittens are younger than 5 weeks and their mother does not return after leaving the kittens for a few hours then they will need constant care, including round-the clock bottle-feeding. Bottle-feeding requires feeding the kittens at least every two hours day and night with special kitten food that can be bought at some pet shops or from a vet. Do not feed kittens under 6 weeks any milk other than special Kitten Replacement Milk as they cannot digest other types of milk (i.e. cow, goat) and it will cause diarrhoea. Kittens under 6 weeks old cannot be given cat milk. If you are unable to look after the kittens yourself please contact a rescue organisation who might be able to take the kittens in. If you are able to commit to hand-raising the kittens yourself please click here for more information on bottle-feeding and caring for young kittens: Hand rearing kittens - http://www.cat77.org.uk/cat-care/hand-rearing-kittens/ How to tell what sex a kitten is - http://www.icatcare.org/advice/how-guides/how-tell-what-sex-kitten If the kittens are 5-6 weeks old and can eat on their own then you can decide either to keep them as your own pets or contact a rescue organisation to see if they can take them in. However, please be aware that rescue organisations including Cats Protection are often inundated with calls and may well not be able to take them in. You could help by trying to find homes for the kittens yourself - ideally once they are 9 weeks old. How to rehome cats and kittens - http://www.catchat.org/rehome.html