TRURO, N.S. — A program to spay and neuter feral cats will not be able to keep operating if a new space isn’t found.
Carma Cat Rescue Maritime – Colchester Chapter needs a place for cats to recover for a short time following surgery. A garage was being used but is no longer available because the person who provided the building is moving.
“We like to keep the cats long enough to make sure there are no complications from surgery,” said Patsy Forrest Oxner, chair of the group. “For females that’s two or three days after being spayed, and males can go after one day. If we have a cat with an injury it needs a place to heal safely.”
The group, which was known as Wayward Cats before becoming a chapter of Carma in January, live traps feral cats and has them spayed or neutered. The cats are returned to their communities if there is someone will to serve as their caretaker, and others are placed in suitable barn homes. Those found not to be feral are adopted out as pets.
The feral cats need to remain in cages until they’re released and this time of year they don’t need a heated building.
“We have to be able to get to the cats and clean and feed them twice a day,” said Forrest Oxner. “We’re a non-profit so we really need donated space.
“We would love to have a permanent facility but any space that will enable us to keep running the TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) program for now would be great. Until we have space we aren’t able to handle more cats.
The group has provided care for more than 50 cats so far this year; with more than 600 helped since September 2015.
Anyone able to provide a recovery space for cats is asked to contact Carma though the Facebook page, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 902-957-8677.
