Feral felines causing concern for villagers in Middle Tysoe
SIXTY-THREE stray cats and kittens have been taken off the streets of Middle Tysoe since April as the village tries to deal with a feral feline problem.
Some residents are concerned their small village is becoming increasingly overrun with cats and – potentially – there’s more on the way as pregnant females give birth.
It’s not certain why there are now so many cats in the village, but there could be a link to Covid.
Villager Beki Benjamin and fellow volunteer Becky Hancox are part of a group of people in Middle Tysoe who are rescuing the cats, feeding them and trying to find them new homes.
Beki thinks the colony of cats on the loose in the village was created during the pandemic.
“We believe it all began during the Covid lockdown,” Beki told the Herald. “People started to feed homeless and hungry cats, some of which might have been abandoned during Covid.
“Becky and I were the ones who finally managed to gain the trust of the residents in two properties where the cats were roaming after years of trying to get help from animal rescue organisations.
“We have taken 63 cats and kittens off the streets since April. The Blue Cross, Sunshine Cat Rescue and Cats Protection took away what they could. Becky and I, along with a team of helpers, are now left caring for 21 and these who all need to be processed at a local veterinary clinic.”
However, to have each cat tested, neutered, chipped and given flea and worm treatments and vaccines will cost around £300.
Beki added: “Cats Protection Mid-Warwickshire have been great. They have lent us traps and crush cages and they also take all our feral cats we catch as they need to be rehomed in a safe outdoor environment. This takes specialist knowledge.
“Tysoe Parish Council initially said the issue was outside their area of responsibility, but they are sympathetic and have thanked us for our work. I have since been given an application form for grants and donations by the parish council.”
Beki believes that spiralling vet costs might put people off adopting a cat but there are still vet bills to be paid, so the volunteers have set up a Go Fund Me page with a target of £5,000. So far £1,190 has been raised.
“It is important to neuter your cat so that this doesn’t keep happening. Having your cat micro-chipped is now a legal requirement but maybe neutering should be too,” said Beki.
Other residents in Middle Tysoe have expressed their concerns about the growing cat population.
One resident, who did not wish to be identified, told the Herald: “It’s a thorny issue and a significant problem in the village and a difficult one to deal with. Sometimes a pet protection charity can help but even they don’t have enough resources. Cats become pregnant which means they’ll be more cats on the way; in fact cats are being born all the time here.”
Cats Protection Mid-Warwickshire confirmed it has had another busy year.
“We have rehomed 183 cats so far this year,” said a spokesperson. “We currently have 65 cats in our care and over 40 on the waiting list that we have not yet been able to bring into care.
“This year we are overwhelmed with the number of young pregnant cats and abandoned kittens. Sadly, as volunteers, we do not always have the resources to respond to reports of stray cats and those where someone is concerned that a cat may be injured.
“We encourage the community to support us by stepping up to help any stray cat that they are concerned about by taking it to the vets to see what they can do.
“Cat owners can help us further by chipping, vaccinating and neutering their cats.”
To adopt a cat or kitten, contact Cats Protection Mid-Warwickshire on 01926 334849 or email enquiries@midwarwick.cats.org.uk.
To donate to the cat rescue operation in Middle Tysoe, visit https://gofund.me/a5dc0a28
