Laois SPCA issue statement following a gruelling night rescuing kittens
The Portlaoise based charity are asking the public to take action
"Our trappers were out last night until after 3am catching a terrified and exhausted Mammy and her two newborns. Thankfully (after much effort) they got Mammy and kittens to safety and in out of this awful weather," the Portlaoise based charity said.
Pictured: One kitten previously caught through the TNR campaign is like a different cat after a few months of care
"Well done to Ciara and Finn for their hard work and determination and thanks to the people who called us. Updates to follow over the next few days! Please always contact us if you are worried about a cat or kittens in your area," they said.
"Please always neuter your cats! Both male and female! Please use our cat neutering scheme which we have extended until the end of April," they said.
'TNR' focuses on humanely trapping wild cats to calmly transport them for neutering. Once the cats have recovered from the surgery, they are then either adopted or released.
This effort is to keep the amount of stray cats low, for the sake of both mothers and kittens.
"TNR is a vital part of our work, we receive calls daily in relation to stray cats and kittens," said Finn Ryan, Chairperson of Laois SPCA and head of the TNR team.
"It's not a widely known fact, but a cat can have kittens from the age of four months," Ms Ryan said.
Pictured: A recent poster from Laois SPCA advocating for the neutering of cats
"They will also continue to have litter after litter, until their body can no longer produce them. This means that a four month old kitten could have a litter of nine kittens, already adding to a perpetual cycle. Life is so, so tough for a feral cat, and we do all that we can to help them," she said.
"When feral kittens go through the adoption process, we will trap and neuter them. It's especially helpful if we can get them by the time they are 10 weeks old, so they can be socialised.
Once through the adoption process, kittens are neutered, vaccinated, and treated for parasites.
"When a cat is spayed, they need less calories, and they won't have litters that may take more from them too. I have seen scrawny little cats with dull coats be spayed, and turn into the most gorgeous, shiny, chubby little cats," Ms Ryan explained.
"We're happy to receive these calls, and urge people to continue to notify us when they notice stray animals or litters. Even if you are just feeding a wild cat, please let us know so we can help," Ms Ryan finished.