Too many cats to try and catch in one go? A large drop net or frame can be the answer to a cat-catcher’s nightmare. The drop frame or net relies on the natural nosiness of the feline, with food and titbits laid out. Once in and nibbling, whoosh!
Jenny Clarke, president of Association for the Protection of Animals Algarve (APAA), saw dawn rising when she and Gabi went to trap some feral colony-cats.
“One had to be taken out and taken to the vet. The extremely angry little cat had severe dental problems,” she explains. “We have to act quickly. Cats don’t like being interfered with, especially if not in a good mood to start with.”
Really? Jenny laughs. “I have to trust Gabi on this. She is the chief-cat-catcher.”
Later, suitably calmed down and in a proper cage for transportation, the little cat is ‘whisked’ away for treatment. “Vets’ fees can be absolutely horrendous, but we were lucky this time around – gums sorted, two teeth extracted and a slightly happier cat. And kinder on our funds!” Feline was kept in overnight, returned the next morning. A lot happier.
In the meantime, grey puppy ‘Pinha’ from Silves and her three siblings are looking for a suitable forever home (see contact below). The four darlings will be vaccinated and chipped prior to going to their foster home ‘Puppyland’, which is part of the Friends of Canil Portimão, who will be actively seeking forever homes for the gorgeous tribe.
The new owners’ appointments can be made ahead of their SNiP appointment.
Good news is that the pups’ mother is being vaccinated and spayed. Fortunately, apart from one pup, the others survived by proper vet care.
The Spaying & Neutering Programme (SNiP) is APAA’s raison d’être. “There isn’t enough funding by the authorities for spaying and neutering feral cats. The colonies are growing beyond capacity. Our events and the Câmara (town hall) do help, but there is only so much we can do as a collective to sort out this enormous problem.”
Dates for your diary:
- Thursday, December 4 – Christmas lunch, Recanto dos Mouros, Silves, 12.30pm for 1pm. Details to follow.
- Monday, December 8 – Final pre-Christmas ‘Pop-Up’, a favourite at O Tasco (Senhora do Verde, near Portimão), 12pm-3pm. Monday is Chicken Piri-Piri Day! Book lunch direct. Ideal for Christmas shopping and a fab lunch with friends.
- 2nd Sunday of December & January – Car Boot Sales, Ferragudo.
Visit APAA charity shops:
- Alvor: Dunas de Alvor: Mon-Sat, 10.30am-2pm
- Silves: Rua Elias Garcia 20, Mon-Fri, 10am-2pm (Sat 1pm)
Real bargains. Christmas presents, hand-made jewellery, ornaments. Home-made chutneys, jams, marmalades, pickles and cookies. Everything you need for your home or rental. Spoil yourself!
Contacts:
- Jackie’s lunches – events.apaaportugal@gmail.com
- Pets – info.apaaportugal@gmail.com (mark for Anita Legacy)
- Legacy video
- Pinha and siblings (four total), email Patricia ‘Puppyland’ – friendscanilportimao@gmail.com
- Please checkout Facebook
