First Mum cat and new-born kittens of 2023 arrive at AIN

Animals In Need’s (AIN) volunteers finished their spring clean of the cattery just in time for the arrival of the first mother cat of 2023 and her five new-born kittens this week.

Mum cat Faye was found in a shed in Letterkenny after giving birth in there while the homeowners were away for the weekend.

As the homeowner has two large dogs, it was a surprise to find this cat family settled in there.

Faye and her kittens have all been brought to AIN’s cattery where they are thriving, with plenty of good food for mum so that her kittens get the best start in life.

She is a fantastic mother and when her kittens are older, she will be neutered and found a home of her own, so there will be no more giving birth in sheds for this adorable cat.

A lone ginger kitten was found in a garden this week, soaked through and freezing cold.

Now called Rocky, he was very underweight and dirty when he was found, either from travelling in a car engine or from being in a coal bunker.

A soggy little Rocky was found in a garden

However, Rocky soon warmed up under the heat lamp at the cattery and was delighted to have a good meal and a full belly.

Rocky is a sweet little boy and will soon be ready for adoption.

AIN has received a number of calls seeking help for sick cats recently and currently has a humane trap set for a sick cat in Laghey.

Another sick cat was caught at the weekend but unfortunately he was beyond help at that stage and had to be put to sleep by the vets to end his suffering.

Two semi-feral cats are off to the vets to be neutered this week and will be rehomed when they have recovered from surgery.

Young black cat Colin was due to have his leg amputated on Monday, but unfortunately he has a touch of cat flu and so his operation has been put on hold until he has recovered.

Colin was rescued from Stranorlar a couple of weeks ago bearing facial wounds and a badly injured leg which the vet believes was due to being clipped by a car.

The prescribed rest did not help Colin’s leg and he will need to have it amputated.

Meanwhile, AIN’s dog rescuers are completely overwhelmed by the number of calls to the helpline from people wishing to surrender their dogs.

It is not a case of simply taking in a dog and finding them a new home.

Many of the rescued dogs are in a poor physical condition or are unsocialised and dealing with these issues requires weeks, and sometimes months, in a foster home before they are ready for adoption.

Wolfie is doing well 

German Shepherd Wolfie has been in foster care for some time after he was taken to the vets to be put down by his owner but thankfully was instead rescued by AIN.

Wolfie was not in the best shape when he arrived, but there has been an amazing transformation at his foster home.

He was initially underweight but thanks to the excellent care of his fosterer and the good food he has been eating, he has perked up remarkably, his coat has a soft, glossy sheen to it and there is a bounce in his step, which is great to see.

Finally, AIN has launched their limited Easter Draw.

To be in with a change to win a large Clifford, The Big Red Dog, soft toy along with an Easter egg. Forty lines are available at €2 each or three lines for €5.

Faye and her kittens 

Donations can be made online on the following links or by signing up in the charity store: Paypal on paypal.me/animalsinneeddonegal or idonate on https://www.idonate.ie/1552_animals-in-need.html. Write ‘Clifford’ in the comments on the donation. Good luck!

To help AIN’s animals, please donate €2 to AIN’s ‘Help Us To Help Them’ fundraising appeal via your phone by texting the word ‘KITTEN’ to 50300. Every last cent goes directly to the rescued animals for their food, bedding, vet bills, worming treatment and vaccinations.

For further information on adoption, fostering, volunteering etc, please contact the main helpline on 087 1356188. For cat/kitten enquiries please call 087 7644420. Animals In Need Donegal is also on Facebook and has a website at http://www.animalsinneeddonegal.com.