Twenty two kittens dumped in a field ... !

On 25 August 2011 we were approached by a householder from the Yeadon area of Leeds.  On returning home from work she had found one adult cat and a total of 22 kittens in her garden.

The householder approached a woman outside her home who was holding three cat baskets.

22 kittens dumped in a field Haworth Cat Rescue 22 kittens dumped in a field Haworth Cat Rescue 

She said: "The woman claimed she was trying to collect the kittens from my drive to take to a friend running a cat rescue. She helped me put them into the carriers and then promptly left, telling me to call her to arrange collection.

"One number I was given is dead and the other switches to answer machine.

"The kittens were all poorly and sadly two died. I took them to the vet, called the RSPCA passing on information about the woman, and then tried to find somewhere able to take the animals."

 Twenty two kittens dumped in a field Haworth Cat Rescue  Twenty two kittens dumped in a field Haworth Cat Rescue Twenty two kittens dumped in a field Haworth Cat Rescue 

This situation presented Haworth Cat Rescue with enormous logistical issues, given the shortage of accommodation at the centre and the differing ages and needs of the kittens (they ranged from approximately two weeks to 10 weeks in age). 

Sadly, before the kittens could be brought to our centre, the two smallest ones died, and since their arrival at our centre another two have passed away.

The surviving kittens have all been checked by the vet and some require treatment for eye infections and other - hopefully - non-life-threatening conditions. We are hopeful that all the kittens will survive and indeed three have already been rehomed.  Whilst the cost of the veterinary treatment won't prevent us from seeking professional help for them when needed, it will hit our purse strings quite severely.  The first visit alone cost us £250, and so far it has cost us over £750 (excluding routine worm, flea and neutering treatment), and there will be many more visits to follow, plus the cost of neutering and regular worming etc treatment.

 22 kittens dumped in a field Haworth Cat Rescue  22 kittens dumped in a field Haworth Cat Rescue 22 kittens dumped in a field Haworth Cat Rescue 

It will be several weeks before all the kittens are big enough to neuter and they will require round the clock care from our staff and volunteers during that time.

We have no idea why these cats were abandoned.  Their age ranges suggest at least four if not five or six litters, and all the kittens are used to being handled, so they are not the product of a colony, and the adult cat, although she has been a mother, is not the mother of any of these kittens.

For us, the main worry is that there are several adult cats out there, presumably still un-neutered, who will no doubt already be pregnant again.  What will happen to their poor babies?

 Twenty two kittens dumped in a field ... !  Twenty two kittens dumped in a field ... !  
 

Read the newspaper articles here:

Wharfedale Observer

Telegraph & Argus

Keighley News

Yorkshire Evening Post

 

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