CATS PROTECTION: Don’t breed problems for later - neuter now!

In fact, one of charity’s main aims is to encourage the neutering of cats and kittens to ensure there will be fewer unwanted felines in the future. The Coleraine branch alone neutered 465 cats last year!

The branch recognises owners may be facing financial struggles now more so that ever. So, throughout this month owners will be able to avail of a £40 voucher for female cats and a £25 voucher for male cats. The vouchers are available for owners struggling financially, but who can’t avail of the charity’s existing £5 Neutering Campaign.

“Neutering offers many solid benefits to cats and owners alike,” explains Mark Hetherington, Coleraine branch Co-ordinator. “A neutered cat is less likely to spray, less likely to roam and also less likely to fight. Neutering also helps guard against disease as fighting cats are more at risk of life-threatening diseases that can be transmitted through biting and saliva.”

There are even more benefits to neutering your male or female cat. Neutering means males are less likely to display territorial behaviour and females will not call or wail. It also means for males there is reduced risk of them getting injured or contracting serious diseases such as Feline Immunodeficiency Virus (FIV) or Feline Leukaemia Virus (FeLV).

Due to COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown, there are more and more unneutered cats likely to have kittens this summer. As one unneutered female cat could potentially produce up to 18 kittens a year, owners who do not neuter their cats may unwittingly be contributing to more cats being abandoned in the future. Cats Protection recommends that cats and kittens are neutered from around four months of age.

Please contact the branch by emailing [email protected] to obtain a neutering voucher through October’s campaign. The campaign will run throughout October; vouchers are subject to availability and for owned cats only. For more information on the £5 Campaign go to https://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/neutering/neutering-campaigns/ni.

Please also contact the branch to avail of options for stray and feral cats.