Charity makes neutering plea after cat intake surges

An animal charity has urged cat owners to get their pets neutered after it was forced to pause its intake of pregnant cats and kittens.

Leicester Animal Aid said its cattery in Huncote had been at the "very limit" with 54 animals under their care in the week starting 3 August.

A charity spokesperson said it had seen a "surge" in un-neutered animals coming into their centre and had paused the intake of cats for three weeks.

Alex Stevenson, kennel and cattery manager at the charity, said it was important for owners to be aware that cats need to be neutered before being allowed to venture outside and that there was a "lack of knowledge" about the issue.

The RSPCA recommends female cats undergo spaying at around four months old to prevent them from getting pregnant.

Male cats should be neutered earlier as it means they are less likely to roam, fight, or mark their territory with urine, the charity adds.

Stevenson said Leicester Animal Aid has now started to "trickle" neutered adult cats into the centre after their numbers eased slightly.

They currently have 46 cats and kittens, but hope to reduce the number to between 30 and 40.

"With the increase in cats coming in, particularly pregnant mums and kittens, that clogs up our rehoming because the kittens can't be rehomed until they are nine weeks old, the mums then can't be rehomed until they have been neutered," Stevenson said.

"A lot of people maybe don't realise how young a female cat can get pregnant.

"Female cats can get pregnant from the age of about four months old.

"Also people aren't neutering their male cats as much as they used to because maybe they are thinking it is not necessarily their issue.

"But that is a big part of the problem.

"People are letting their cats out too young."

An increase in the cost of neutering was also adding to the number of animals that the charity took in, Stevenson said.

"Animal rescue centres and charities, we are not here to judge, we are here to help," Stevenson said.

"We want to help reduce the cat population out on the streets, so if you do need any advice about neutering, about veterinary costs, about cat care, give us a call.

"We will do everything we can to give you that advice."

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