Trapping again!

The care4cats trapping volunteers were out last November when they did a fantastic job. This weekend the first of the 2 teams arrive to do a 'mop up' on the calls we had to do that through one thing and another couldn't be finished. Often it's because kittens are too young to be neutered, or females cats have just given birth...so a few months on the volunteers make a return visit.
In years gone by the charity has been able to advertise its visit and take on new calls from residents needing help. Sadly this time money is so tight that we fear we may not be able to do the cats already on our long list.
The assisted neutering programme we run is helping to alleviete things somewhat. This is where we offer to pass on our discount to people who are out of work of who simply can not afford to neuter cats they have taken in off the street. This is an area that is growing, especially with the economic crisis and thankfully we have great support from a number of vets on the island who are happy to help us in our endeavours. We feel it is better if someone can receive assistance rather than being faced with having to abandon the cat or kittens when they come along and then can't cope. So we hope, in some small way, this is helping to prevent abandoned cats.
So this weekend, arriving to this cold weather we're currently having, is a team from South Wales headed up by Sue who's been a regularly volunteer for many years, Simon who works with the Celia Hammond Trust in London city and of course Kerry who is an island resident. Kerry is also the co-ordinator for the trip and has the unenviable task of trying to get as many of the jobs done in the week as can be afforded.
The West side of the island has a team of two arriving on 7th February. Sue and Tracey from Wigan, who are now regulars, have been hampered somewhat by the lack of flights but will be able to make it for 5 days. They'll be supported by Lara and Jaki (who will also co-ordinate the jobs).
Lets hope the recent  rain stays away and that the temperature rises a little!

Happy New Year! And a Happy Story too.

2011 has arrived and the year has started with a heart-warming story sent to us from our friends Michael and Susan who feed the River Cats in Sta Eularia. Here's Susan's story:
Jack the lad, arrived by the river a few months ago  looking so sad. He was very timid of anyone going near him to feed him and we also noticed he'd lost an eye - probably through fighting, as Tom often do. The lovely Maggie and Peter, who visit the cats regularly when they're over here, fell in love with him but all attempts to catch him failed.
So imagine our surprise when yesterday we learned from Elena, the receptionist at a vet clinic in Sta Eularia, that a very kind man had trapped Jack and taken him there for treatment. Elena said if he cannot be found a home then he'll continue to live out the rest of his life at the vets surgery as the resident cat. So lucky Jack Sparrow!
We went to visit him and, expecting to see him in a cage, we were most surprised to see him sat on a pile of clean towels like a king! He gave us a big yawn then a hiss as if to say "I am not going back to that river".
So a happy ending for Jack Sparrow - who actually looks a lot better now than in the photo. He may have only one eye but still seems to be saying "who's looking at you babe"!
We still don't know who the mystery man is that managed to catch him but we'd like to offer our thanks to him all the same.
So a fab ending for Jack. It really is heart warming when we continually hear about people all over the island doing their best to care for cats.
We'd like to wish you all the best for 2011 and thank you for your continued support.
Don't forget donations can be made online at the website...so it's easy peasy. ALL money donated goes towards the welfare of the cats.