I am sharing a situation that came across my path in hopes that the community might be able to help. I’ve never come across anything like this… you hear about it, you read about it, but usually it is about abuse and neglect – that is not the case in this situation. This is about the inability to know where to ask for help.
It began some years ago with one mother cat and her baby here on the Northern Bruce Peninsula. A family took them in. Today there are 40 newborn kittens, with a potential of more in the next few weeks, along with 33 full-grown cats.
This is not a case of someone breeding cats; the colony happened over time, naturally. It is definitely not a situation of abuse or neglect. The cats and kittens have been lovingly taken care of. The intentions of the family are noble. It is clear this could have happened to anyone without the financial resources to deal with the issue in the beginning. Asking for help, knowing where to ask… well, as we all know this is complicated!
The mother cats are doing their best. The family reports that the kittens are all over the place and that it is hard to remember which kitten belongs to who. One mother thinks the kittens are all hers and keeps taking them to her box. Another moved her litter in with four kittens and their mother. They are becoming their own community, helping out where they can.
A small group of us in the village of Lion’s Head have put together a plan to deal with this colony of cats but we cannot make it happen without your support. We are hoping to have all the kittens and adult cats neutered or spayed; along with rabies vaccines, flea and worm treatments and to deal with medical conditions that could arise in this colony. The veterinarian services are all volunteered. The funds you send would be spent on necessary medical supplies. A Gofundme page has been set up at https://www.gofundme.com/f/cwpvaa-venus-cat-family-project
Financial assistance, food and litter donations can be dropped off at Peninsula Pet Supplies, 2826 Hwy 6 in Ferndale (tell them it is for the Venus Cat Family). If you would prefer to e-transfer a donation please send it to Karen Livick, livick@eastlink.ca
It is our intension to find homes for all the kittens. If you have an interest in fostering or adopting please email Karen Livick at livick@eastlink.ca or call 519-793-3055.
Karen G. Livick
Lion’s Head, ON
