Don’t dump tame cats among feral colonies

EDITOR – Since early April there has been a spate of cat dumpings at my feral colonies.

My biggest wish is that these despicable human beings would contact me direct, face to face, but instead they sneak around in between my feeding times and dump cats (mostly kittens) at my feral colonies.

Dumping your tame, domesticated cats among feral cats is not the solution and is in fact a very traumatising experience for the cats being dumped. The feral cats will not allow them to eat or even come on their territory. If I don’t remove the tame cats that have been dumped then they starve without food and water, not to mention constantly being attacked by the feral cats and yes, the adult feral cats do attack the kittens you dump there.

Dumping your tame, domesticated cats among feral cats is in fact a very traumatising experience for the cats being dumped

Between 9 and 10 April, somebody did the cruellest thing imaginable – they removed five newborn kittens from their mother, an experience which deprives the kittens and traumatises the mother cat. Mother cats nearly go insane looking for their newborn kittens. The five newborn kittens were placed in a cardboard box and dumped overnight for me to find the next day, but unfortunately some wild animal got hold of the kittens before the person feeding for me on that day arrived and all but one of them were killed. I certainly hope you, the person who performed this mindlessly and cruel deed, feels proud of yourself, coward that you are. You are devoid of compassion. As I always say, what goes around comes around so don’t be surprised when bad things start happening to you.

Since the above case, four more young cats were dumped. As for the people who dumped them, you do not deserve to know their fate so therefore I will not enlighten you. What you deserve is not something that should be mentioned in this publication.

There is absolutely no gratitude for what we as animal feeders and rescuers do. Instead we are abused by people who bring us even more responsibility

Over the weekend of 25 and 26 June, another three young cats were dumped. These poor creatures, so vulnerable and innocent and trusting, thrown out into the bush to fend for themselves among feral cats, are absolutely skin and bone. Who are you mister or madam, who would starve an animal to this degree? You should be charged with negligence because those cats have been badly neglected in every way. You should hang your head in shame for what you have done.

Furthermore, future cat dumpers should note – there is an animal welfare organisation in Amanzimtoti called the SPCA. For the uninformed, this is an organisation where you can take your unwanted pets instead of dumping them on me to take responsibility for your slack attitude in life. Be glad I do not know who you are. It is so disappointing to see there is absolutely no gratitude for what we as animal feeders and rescuers do. Instead we are abused by people who bring us even more responsibility than we already have, by dumping their cats. I am a private individual who cares for a few colonies of feral cats, at my own expense no less.

I am not there for your convenience. I am not there to clean up after you. Take your unwanted animals to the SPCA or call on 031-904-2424. Take a moment everybody and stop looking just to benefit yourself, stop focusing only on your own needs. Look around you and see where you can help another. You have not lived today until you have helped someone who can never repay you.

FERAL CAT FEEDER

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