Concerns voiced about cat neutering provision in east Antrim

Piper was helped by a local volunteer during lockdown.

The feline welfare organisation says its does not have the resources to provide adequate support for volunteers who work outside its branch or adoption centre structure across the province.

It comes after an east Antrim volunteer, who has dealt with around 500 feral cats in the region every year for over a decade, contacted the Newtownabbey Times to voice concern about cover in the area.

The woman, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “Neutering of all cats, but especially feral cats, is so vitally important as one cat can breed so quickly. A female cat and her offspring can become a colony of 30 cats in just one year.

“A new CP (Cats Protection) branch has been opened recently which covers BT41 - BT44, which still leaves support for feral cats lacking in Ballyclare, Larne, Whitehead, Islandmagee and areas of Carrickfergus, to mention a few local areas.”

She added: “It is devastating news for feral cats when long term unpaid volunteers are willing to help. One person in the time available can only do so much.

“Trapping of feral cats takes a significant amount of time and to fund raise and have a normal life like everyone else the time is just not available.

“CP has not been funding neutering or permitting volunteers to attend cat calls on their behalf in this area since the beginning of the lockdown. I have assisted with over 70 feral or semi feral cats.

“One example is a group of cats abandoned on a country road in Larne, including ‘Piper’. The seven cats were starving and two were losing their hair due to lack of food. The cats were spotted by a local family. Piper was most in need as he had got a drainpipe cover lodged on his head. All seven cats were taken to a local veterinary clinic and got the treatment they required. Those cats would have died without help in the heart of the lockdown.

“This local area is very lucky to have so many wonderful veterinary clinics who are very kind to feral cats. Without their dedication and support this work would not be possible.”

Responding to the claims, Maggie Roberts, Cats Protection’s director of Veterinary Services, said: “We would like to reassure readers the trap, neuter, return (TNR) of feral cats will continue through Cats Protection’s Northern Ireland network of six branches and the Belfast Adoption Centre.

“Members of the public will still be able to access neutering vouchers for their own cats via vets participating in our specific campaign in Northern Ireland or for feral cats on their land through Cats Protection’s neutering department.

“The charity is looking at ways we can safely expand TNR activities across Northern Ireland, and appreciates the need for TNR to be carried out across the country. TNR requires a huge amount of support in terms of administration, including risk assessments, record keeping, expenses, PPE and maintenance of equipment, and this has been exacerbated with the current Covid-19 pandemic.

“We have a duty of care to all our staff and volunteers and at this time we do not have the resources to provide adequate support to TNR volunteers who work outside our branch or adoption centre structure.”

She added: “A group of volunteers has recently come together to form the Ballymena Branch of Cats Protection and in just its first three days of operation managed to trap, neuter and return 13 ferals.

“Cats Protection is also offering advice on neutering owned cats and issuing neutering vouchers under the Northern Ireland-wide scheme supporting cats owners on low incomes to get their cats neutered for just £5.

“Sadly, there are always many more cats in need across Northern Ireland and all over the UK, than we have the capacity to assist and in these challenging times we have to use our resources in the most effective ways to make the biggest impact on cat welfare.“

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