somebody has put out an ad saying they desperately need to rehome 17 cats, mostly between 2-3 years, she said she had tried all the rescue centres, I sent her a message suggesting a few she may not have thought of and hoped it helped. However she is readvertising today still 17 cats saying she can deliver.She is in Taunton does anybody know of anyone who can help/rehome a few. I cant understand why the rspca won't take some, if it was a cruelty case they would find room?

> I cant understand why the rspca won't take some

because they simply don't have the resources to take animals in when people (or it sounds like a hoarder in this case) no longer want them.

It's a sad fact that there are rescues (all animal types) full to overflowing all over the country, if the RSPCA joined in to take unwanted pets they would be full in no time, with no space for cruelty cases.

As an aside how can anyone end up with 17 2-3 year old cats!

I take it they are moggies so no breed club to help? There is nobody wanting cats at the moment. Lots of breeders have problems. My entire latest litter (pedigree from health tested parents, registered, vaccinated, microchipped etc) I ended up giving away for free to people I knew as it was either that or keep the entire litter -of which all were male. (Needless to say I had people waiting for females.) And I've heard of plenty of others in the same situation, all over the country, there must be a surplus of kittens this year.

There seems to be a distinct lack of people getting their moggies neutered over the past couple of years with the result the Cat's Protection centres and other rescues are absolutely full and carrying waiting lists because of people turning up with unwanted cats & kittens.   Its diabolical.  Even if you are on benefits you can get a voucher to help towards the costs, if you can afford to smoke/drink/eat takeaways - you can afford to neuter your animals.

I have a stray cat living in my garden and he can't get a place in the 2 local CP's because of selfish people unwilling to neuter but who then expect the CP's to drop everything to re-home their unwanted kittens so there's no spaces left for genuine cases.  The stray is an unneutered tom too.  :-( 

I shake my head in dismay when I see photos splashed across the Internet of people's kittens after letting their cats out to get mated by any old male cat that could be carrying FeLV/FIV, but yet do they care or do they bother testing their own cats?

I spoke to someone in the RSPCA recently and they've never known a year like it for unwanted cats & kittens.  Shame on those who don't neuter and have resulting unplanned litters.

Just checked one of our local large practises and fees for neutering cats are so reasonable compared to dogs!!!

Cat castrate, including anaesthetics, post op care, pain relief and transportation * £53.40
Cat spay, including anaesthetics, post op care, pain relief and transportation * £85.15

So even though most people get a moggy free or for very little the neutering cost is fairly affordable.  So no real excuse for not doing it.

Compare that to Canines:
Dog castrate, including anaesthetics, post op care, pain relief and transportation * £174.05
Bitch spay, including anaesthetics, post op care, pain relief and transportation * £227.38 - £285.89
  (breed and size dependent)  
Bitch spay - laparoscopic (keyhole surgery), including anaesthetics, post op care, pain relief and transportation * £330.58 - £386.69

A practice in Carnoustie  has it's fees on-line and is:

Cat Castrate - £42.00

Cat Spay - £60.00 (midline £81.00)

Much cheaper than an iPhone/Blackberry etc......

I know, I can't imagine how someone has ended up with them all, but I am still worried about what will happen to them:(

I pay something like £40 for a male and £50 for a female to be neutered! Cheapest place I've heard of was in Derbyshire, they charged £25 for males and £30 for females.

Bitch spay, including anaesthetics, post op care, pain relief and transportation * £227.38 - £285.89
  (breed and size dependent)  

Goodness -my vets must be really cheap. I have my smallest bitch booked in for Monday and I reckon it will be about half that, will report back next week....

The long and the short of it though: anyone can shop around and find the best deal in their area as it does vary a lot between practices, which is a lot better than having lots of unplanned litters, be it kittens or puppies.

Don't know if there is a solution for these cats though. :(