Two cats can quickly pass on their genes to 420,000 kittens, the ISPCA has warned, as part of a campaign asking people to have their cats neutered or spayed.
As part of a drive to prevent accidental or unwanted litters of kittens, the animal welfare charity said many cats are left behind when their owners move house or are no longer willing to look after them.
In some cases, cats and kittens are dumped, lost or their owners had passed away. In other cases, cats are starving and scavenging to survive and feed their offspring.
With an estimated 200,000 feral cats indiscriminately breeding, the overpopulation problem is a serious welfare concern in Ireland, as feral cats continue to breed across the country.
The ISPCA has now called on anyone in contact with a feral cat colony to take part in a community initiative called Trap, Neuter and Return (TNR) to tackle the issue and reduce the cat overpopulation problem in their area.
Kittens can become active as young as 16 weeks old and they can have as many as three litters per year. By having cats and kittens neutered and spayed it will prevent accidental litters of kittens from being born, the ISPCA said.
The charity is urging the public to consider the positive benefits of getting their cats and kittens spayed or neutered and is encouraging animal lovers to talk to their vet as soon as possible to get this simple procedure done.
The ISPCA also encourages all cat owners to microchip their cats in the event that they get lost, as this is universally recognised as the best way to make your pet permanently identifiable. Cats are known to hide in vehicles and can end up far from home. Having your cat microchipped is the best option to be reunited with your beloved pet should this happen.
An information guide about feral cats is available here.
