It nearly turned out very differently for these ginger kittens.
Hounslow Animal Welfare Society (HAWS) got a call to say there were two semi-feral cats - brother and sister - living in a garden in Southall, and could the charity trap, neuter and return them? Being busy with other calls for help, the HAWS volunteer who does the trapping thought it would be three days before she could do the job but, at the last moment, fitted it in the next day.
Being an experienced volunteer, she caught them quickly – a young tabby male and a calico tortoiseshell female. The female was pregnant and that night, May 20, the female delivered six ginger kittens.
If the volunteer had not gone so quickly to trap the cats, it is likely these kittens would have been born in the wild, facing a bleak future. As it is, they are now safely in HAWS care and are being socialised so that, as they grow up, unlike their Mum, they will be used to human contact.
It is unusual to have a litter of six ginger kittens and HAWS suspect the father of the kittens is a massive un-neutered ginger cat, the volunteer saw when trapping the brother and sister. When the kittens are old enough to leave their Mum, the adult cats - after being neutered and microchipped – will be taken back to the lady who was feeding them. But the kittens will be looking for their own home. If you want to spice up your life with one of these ginger bundles of fun, call 020 8560 5443. They will be ready for homing around July 21 but can be reserved now. Children must be over 4 years.
If you miss out on these, HAWS has 60 other kittens for rehoming plus many adorable adults. Also, today, they have been called to a house in Ealing with at least 25 cats and kittens in the garden. Please hear their plea - have your cat neutered.
Read more of Marion's animal welfare columns.
