Spring is now well and truly here and for Cats Protection this heralds the start of the kitten season, although probably due to the harsh winter, it is a little late this year!  If last year is anything to go by, there could be up to 100 unwanted kittens and their mums looking for homes. This is in addition to all the other cats from youngsters to oldies (and all shapes and size in between) who are also looking for homes.

A female cat can in five years be responsible for 20,000 descendants - all requiring good homes. And, it goes without saying, a male cat is involved in this process as well!  Cats Protection and all other animal charities actively encourage owners to have their cats spayed and neutered. This can be done, with the agreement of your vet, from four months of age but definitely no later than 6 months.

We have had experience of cats who come into our care who are pregnant at 5 months. Very often, the kittens produced do not live and it is damaging to a very young mum's health to go through the process of pregnancy and birth at such a young age. Even sadder, we have had young mums under a year old giving birth to their second litter without actually producing one live birth! This is unnecessary and cruel!

Neutering is essential to prevent unwanted kittens and reduce the spread of disease, wandering and territorial behaviour such as scratching, fighting and spraying - all the actions of unneutered cats!

All adult cats from 5 months old from Cats Protection will have been neutered prior to being rehomed. We operate a neutering scheme to assist those in genuine need with the cost of the operation for which we issue neutering vouchers.

SO THIS IS OUR PLEA TO CAT OWNERS - LET'S TRY AND MAKE SURE THAT THIS SPRING EVERY KITTEN IS A WANTED KITTEN!