Help with cat neutering costs for local residents
14 May 2012
Volunteers from the Stourbridge and District Branch of Cats Protection, the UK’s leading feline welfare charity, will be out and about this month offering help to enable local people to get their cats at reduced costs.
The charity’s mobile unit will be setting up at the following locations:
- Stourbridge Town Centre (in the charity’s shop at 28 Lower High Street) on Wednesday 23rd May between 10am and 4pm
- Asda Tipton (Wednesbury Oak Road, Princes End) on Thursday 24th May between 10am and 4pm
- Dudley Market Place on Friday 25th May between 10am and 4pm
- Asda, Kidderminster (New Road) on Saturday 26th May between 10am and 4pm
Volunteers will be on hand to offer advice on neutering and to issue vouchers that can be used at local vets to cover part of the cost of neutering a cat. Vouchers are available to people on benefits or low income and evidence of this will need to be shown at the time of claiming the voucher.
Rob Hall, Volunteer Branch Co-ordinator for the Stourbridge and District Branch, said:
“Neutering is essential in controlling the feline population. Cats are prolific breeders and, with one un-neutered female capable of being responsible for 20,000 descendants in five years, it’s easy to see how the problem can escalate.
“Like many areas of the country, we have a problem with unwanted cats and kittens. Responsible preventative measures such as neutering need to be taken very seriously by cat owners.
“Our reduced-cost neutering voucher scheme aims to help stop the problem where it starts and reduce the number of abandoned and suffering cats in this area.
“Despite some male cat owners’ fears that neutering tom cats is the unkindest snip of all, we would stress that neutering both male and female cats is essential for controlling that cat population.”
There are many persistent myths and misconceptions about neutering, despite a wealth of evidence proving its benefits. The facts are:
• A female un-neutered cat can be responsible for 20,000 descendants over five years.
• A female cat can start to reproduce from six months old, having up to three litters a year, with up to five or six kittens per litter.
• Male cats are fertile from six months, and can impregnate up to 32 female cats a year.
• Most cats killed on the roads are un-neutered males.
• It is a misconception to think that a cat should have a litter before she is neutered.
• Neutered cats are healthier, happier and more affectionate – particularly males.