Fewer cats if people took more care

At least two more regional cat shelters are on the cards as groups around Auckland assess the post-Christmas flood of abandoned moggies. Every January, SPCA shelters fill with dumped animals bought as gifts in the festive rush. Auckland has one official SPCA shelter, in Mangere, to cope with the overload. Also based in Mangere is the Cats in Need Trust run by Yvonne Brown. ``We started out as a boarding cattery 10 years ago. We now have 80 cages with cats to be adopted,'' says Mrs Brown. Her busy shelter is the only other facility where abandoned cats can await a home. "Auckland needs more cat shelters. It would encourage people to drop them off.'' She says cat numbers at this time of year also rise as it's breeding season. North Shore's only volunteer stray cat carers, Forgotten Felines, are inundated with abandoned kittens. Sylvia Fairburn started the group 11 years ago and says the number of strays is horrendous. "At this time of year I won't even pick up a Trade & Exchange (publication); there's page after page of kittens free to good homes. It's as though cats are a disposable item,'' says Mrs Fairburn. Her volunteers foster kittens until homes can be found. Ultimately, she wants to open a shelter on the Shore, but needs funds to do it. "It would be for kittens, abandoned cats and for people to use as a dropping-off point. There is nothing between Mangere and Warkworth.'' Auckland Cat Rescue also plans to open a shelter by 2010, as does St Heliers' Lonely Miaow Association. Founder Peter Dormon says it won't be for a few years and they need at least $2 million. He attributes the high number of abandoned cats around January to people going away on holiday, unwanted Christmas presents, people moving and breeding season. Other cat groups, such as Auckland Cat Rescue, the Humane Society and C is for Cats, advocate de-sexing. "It costs between $75 and $100, less for a male. It's a once in a lifetime operation,'' says Mrs Brown. "If it were free, people would be up at the door.'' She says people are irresponsible not to de-sex. Mrs Fairburn points out that cats are sexually active by five months and can have litters continuously from October to May. Forgotten Felines, 479 9466; Auckland Cat Rescue, 027 573 7283; Lonely Miaow, 575 9760; Cats in Need Trust, 276 9960. All accept donations. by Kirsten Grant