by Mary Louis

mlouis@thekmgroup.co.uk

Unwanted cats and kittens are inundating the RSPCA’s Woodchurch Animal Centre near Birchington.

Like other Kent shelters, the centre, run by the charity’s Thanet branch is at crisis point. They have run out of space.

But the tide of animals arriving in need of care and rehoming is relentless.

Many are injured, emaciated, neglected, pregnant, invariably victims of irresponsible owners who fail to have their pets neutered.

Countywide it is the RSPCA’s worst crisis for the feline population. The charity’s unequivocal response: get your cat neutered.

At Woodchurch, they have had a huge influx of mums and kittens. Having a pregnant female is often a catalyst for callous owners to dump the animal.

Take mum and daughter Katy and Kerry. They were thrown out of a car outside the centre, full of fleas, desperately thin, covered in faeces and heavily pregnant. Both mums are tiny due to their own deprivation. They gave birth within two days of each other and have been excellent mums to kittens soon ready for rehoming.

The centre is alerting owners to regular visits month by the mobile neutering bus on the last Wednesday of each months, with extra dates arranged to meet demand. It visited Woodchurch four times in July. Veterinary staff can deal with up to 16 cats a day on board at the cost price of £25 per cat. Cats can be neutered from four months.

For an appointment call co-ordinator Barbara on 01843 297931. The bus has been going since 2000 and neutered 13,000 cats in the south east.

The Woodchurch Centre is at Queensdown Road, Woodchurch, near Birchington CT7 0HG and open 11.30am-2pm daily, except Wednesdays. See www.rspcathanet.org.uk, call 01843 826180.

See this week's Thanet Extra for the full story and more pictures.