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AN ISPCA INSPECTOR discovered 44 cats at one property in Meath after receiving a call from a concerned member of the public.
The charity said today that it received a call to its National Animal Cruelty Helpline and inspector Elaine Reynolds went to the Meath property. There she discovered “a large number of cats allowed to have bred uncontrollably”.
A total of 44 cats and kittens were surrendered to the ISPCA and transferred to the National Animal Centre in Longford for veterinary assessment. The property had originally housed three cats, but they had multiplied to this number in just three years as none were spayed or neutered.
While the charity said the cats were found to be healthy, it said it was “a dangerous overcrowding situation” as their numbers were increasing at such an unsustainable rate that it was “only a matter of time before more serious welfare issues arose”.
Reynolds said this situation could have been prevented if the owner had neutered or spayed the three cats initially.
“We need pet owners to be responsible by spaying and neutering their cats or kittens as early as possible. Our centres are consistently at capacity, and it is vital that pet owners help us tackle the issue of pet overpopulation.
“Neutering and spaying is the most effective way to prevent cat over-breeding and it will go a long way in preventing unwanted litters of kittens from being born in the first place.”
She said spaying and neutering also has overwhelmingly positive benefits in reducing the risk of certain cancers and curbing behavioural issues.
The ISPCA is now appealing for new homes for these cats and anyone interested can get in touch with the charity here.
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Aideen might be the cutest most strange little thing I’ve seen. Adorable.
@Veronica: Don’t be sucked in by the cuteness..its a trap.. We’re just a can openers with legs to them. Once they figure out how to open a tin of food they’ll murder us all in our sleep..
@John Ryan:
@Veronica: I think Aideen might be extra special. She’s looks like a dote.
@Veronica: And now looking for a home…go on, ye know ye want her :)
@Veronica:
No I want her … she’s quirky tho isn’t she?
@Veronica:
I think she’s the reincarnation of Peter Lorre.
There should be a government funded spraying program for those you can’t afford it
@DaisyMay: How about people do their research BEFORE getting a pet. In fairness if someone can’t or won’t pay to spay or neuter their pet it gives little hope that they will provide veterinary care if their pet gets sick or has am accident. Cat neutering only costs between 50 to 80 euro and lots of clinics and rescues do reduced cost scenes as it is. The government pot can’t pay for everything!
@DaisyMay: Abortion for cats?
@DaisyMay: you can apply to social welfare for them to pay for the procedure, but they only approve a limited number of applications with approved vets.
@Cheryl Mellett: I have two cats. Never asked for them.They just kind of arrived.I got them both snipped of course but here I am, a dog lover, with two bloody cats. They’ve cost me a fortune between food and vets bills so I can understand how people take pity on animals with no intention of actually keeping then not able to afford vets bills.
@Karen Wellington: Blue Cross does it free for welfare recipients.
@DaisyMay: I don’t mind the colour of cats…
@Padraic: then there’s no excuse not to have them spayed/neutered
@John Ryan: There are rescues country wide that will gladly help.with if not cover the full cost of spay or neuter for stray cats. I volunteer in animal rescue mostly with dogs but I’m currently assisting with a trap neuter release programme in an area with aprox 40 to 50 feral cats. Unfortunately people usually wait until the situation is way out of control before looking for help.
@DaisyMay: what colour would you like to spray them?
@John Considine: __ An old aunt of mine insisted on saying splayed, and she wasn’t Chinese.
@Ted Murray: splaying cats is an entirely different and far more nefarious process
That house will need to be nuked from orbit to get rid of the smell.
Why take them away if they were being taken care of properly
@Louise Ní Riain: 44 in 3 years. How many more in 3 more years
That’s just way too much pussy cat for one house
At least they look very healthy. I see horses on the road in Tipperary and they look awful but the owners can keep them.
Alaistair is hatching a cunning plan.
It will not be pretty, when it happens.
Cats are sluts
Pussey galore.
have your say