Hidden dangers of the abandoned cats

Oct 8 2009 by Marjorie Kerr, West Lothian Courier

ANIMAL welfare experts are calling on all cat owners in the West Lothian area to ensure their pets are neutered.

The warning from Cats Protection West Lothian comes in response to the large number of unwanted kittens currently being seen by the group.

However, the charity is also keen to reduce the number of cats suffering from FIV or feline AIDS.

The experts say their concerns are summed up by a cat named Tam who is in their care.

Tam was owned by a foreign family who did not get him neutered and threw him out to fend for himself.

Luckily one of their neighbours realised he had been abandoned and began to look after him.

She had intended to keep Tam, but unfortunately he didn’t get on with her own cat and she asked Cats Protection to rehome him.

And sadly when he was vet checked, it was found he had already contracted the FIV virus.

This did not mean a death sentence for him as many cats with the virus still live long and happy lives with the right care.

However, it does mean that for both his safety and the safety of other cats he can no longer enjoy going outdoors and must live for the rest of his life as an indoor cat.

Tam is a very young cat to have contacted the FIV virus and, whereas with the right care he will continue to live a healthy life, the experts say his situation could have been avoided if his original owners had him neutered before he was allowed to go outside.

Un-neutered male cats are more likely to fight with others, thus contracting the virus and passing it on.

Other risks involved in keeping an un-neutered cat are straying away, being involved in accidents and mating with un-neutered females, which increases the numbers of unwanted cats and kittens in the area which are already unbelievably high at the moment.

If you would like to give Tam a loving indoor home or would like more information on the virus or neutering please call Cats Protection or contact them through the website at cats-westlothian.org.uk

If you need help with the cost of neutering, contact the group on 0845 371 2719.