S.P.C.A. Official Deplores Abandoning Of Cats

Press, Volume CIV, Issue 30936, 17 December 1965, Page 21

S.P.C.A. Official Deplores Abandoning Of Cats

The abandoning of cats and kittens by persons going on holiday was condemned by the chairman of the council of the Canterbury Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Anmials (Mr J. Quickenden) in a statement. At present there were 100 cats and 68 kittens at the society’s home in Sparks road, said Mr Quickenden. This was about double the number a month ago. "The approach of the holiday season and the increase of the number of cats and kittens at the home are not a coincidence. Persons get in touch with the home and report ‘stray’ cats and kittens on their properties. "In the last four months, the home manager (Mr L. Wade) has handled only one genuine stray cat —it was a wild one, and bit him. The other cats have obviously been pets. Some have been dumped at the gate to the home. “Persons who dump their cats or kittens rather than pay for them to be boarded during holidays, or arrange for neighbours to feed them, are not really fond of their pets, to put it mildly,” Mr Quickenden said. He said that the society’s home could not take any more “stray” cats. It could deal only with accident cases. Catteries in Christchurch were fully booked, although

there might be a few vacancies. Therefore he appealed to owners of cats and kittens to arrange for neighbours to look after them. Mr Quickenden said that the city, borough, and county councils were not required to impound or look after stray cats. The councils were required to impound stray dogs. The S.P.CjA. was the only body looking after cats. It was not subsidised by the councils. At present the meat bill for cats and kittens at the home was more than £5O a fortnight.