The RSPCA is urging loving cat owners to get their felines neutered from four months old as the latest young cat mother has come into the charity’s care.
The charity says many owners may not realise that their cat can actually go into their first season at an early age.
With so many young cats being let outside before they have been spayed this means the chances of a surprise litter is high – it claims as many as 85% of litters are unplanned.
Seven-month old mum Scarlett came into RSPCA care recently with her nine-week old kitten Ruby.
Their owner could no longer cope after the unexpected arrival of Ruby and so the mum and daughter duo were taken into RSPCA Greater Manchester Animal Hospital on 22nd May, before being looked after by a fosterer.
Julia Tucker, manager at the RSPCA Altrincham and Cheshire branch, said: “Scarlett is such a loving kitten who loves to be fussed and played with, unfortunately she became a mother too soon which means she has been thrust into the responsibility of looking after a kitten at such a young age.
“Ruby is full of beans and loves nothing but to play and loves lots of fuss, just like her mum. They have developed a close bond so we would really like to see them re-homed together.”
Julia added: “Sadly we do see very young pregnant cats coming into our care, who are having litters when they are really just kittens themselves.
“Sometimes they will reject the kittens and abandoned litters are often found on their own and need hand rearing and feeding round the clock.”
One unneutered female cat can produce around 18 kittens in a year. The charity believes this is one of the reason’s behind the UK currently facing a cat overpopulation crisis.
Cats aged less than six months old account for 14% of litters, and cats in the 7-12 month bracket account for 27% of litters.
This time of year is sometimes known as ‘kitten season’ when most litters are born. It sees RSPCA centres and branches bursting with an influx of cats and kittens.
The charity and many other animal welfare groups believe the answer to this is to spay cats earlier to avoid unplanned litters.
More information can be found here: www.kind.cats.org.uk
If you’d like to give Scarlett and Ruby a loving home together, please contact the RSPCA branch on 0161 286 2503.
