Too few Sai Kung people coming forward to be feral cat carers, SPCA says

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Dr Fiona Woodhouse

The SPCA is somewhat less than impressed with the animal-caring instincts of Sai Kung people. Too few people have come forward to act as cat carers, Dr Fiona Woodhouse said. Fiona is the society’s deputy director in charge of welfare.

The SPCA runs what it calls a Cat Colony Care Programme. Fewer registered carers have signed up in Sai Kung compared to other districts, Fiona said. “This may be because cat populations are less of a problem in Sai Kung, or because informally people are getting on with looking after them.”

The society wants more Sai Kung people to volunteer as cat carers. Here is what they are asked to do:

  • Feed the cats approved food daily
  • Help trap them for desexing
  • Watch over them:  if one becomes sick, catch it for treatment

Since the programme began at the turn of the century the SPCA has desexed 59,000 cats. Everyday the society has a vet full-time cat-desexing. Now Hong Kong-wide there are 700 volunteers registered to look after cats under CCCP.

cat1Cats living wild uncared for have an average life span of only two years. They scavenge for food in rubbish. Twice a year they can produce litters of up to six kittens. Illness, car accidents, predators plague them.  They fight constantly, yowl for mates and spray urine marking territory.

The SPCA says feral cats looked after under CCCP generally have longer life spans. They are fed well. Desexed, they don’t reproduce nor do they fight for mates. The cat population stabilises or decreases.

The society asks for Sai Kung volunteers to come forward. It also need donations to fund this and other programmes.

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