GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - The Graaff-Reinet Animal Welfare Society (Graws) recently assisted a local company to get their feral cat colony under control. 

"We went in nice and early to start looking for kittens and about three hours later we left with 24 fur babies of all sizes," says Carlin Raath, manager of Graws. 

"These kittens are now raised in foster care to get them ready for their forever homes. However, considering the growing number of feral cat colonies and limited forever homes available, the best solution is for feral cats to be spayed or neutered and returned to their familiar environment."

Raath used the 24 kittens that they managed to capture as an example to put the importance of spaying and neutering all cats – feral and domestic – into perspective: "We have 24 kittens and 18 of these kittens are female. Within four months these females can become pregnant. The average female has between four and 12 kittens. This means five per female. Within the first 12 months there will be about 18 females x five kittens per female x three times per year. That is a staggering 270 kittens. If 150 of this litter are females, that will be 150 females x five kittens x three times a year = 2 250."

Raath says a breeding colony increases the risk of health issues and may even lead to fatal disease. 

They also kill off the local bird population which, in turn, leads to an increase in insects in the area. In contrast, a feral colony that is spayed and neutered does have massive benefits.

Controlled colonies have limited health risks and are generally less prone to disease. They will also keep vermin levels down. Feral cats generally hide from people and if fed regularly, will not become a nuisance.

Since cats are territorial, they will also keep other feral cats at bay.

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