Dangling fearlessly from pine trees. White fluffy balls. A surreal ‘candy floss’ moment. Contents dropping to the ground silently, creeping obediently, nose to tail. Cunningly targeting canines accidentally discovering the trail of hairy wigglies.
Processionary caterpillars eject poisonous hairs into the furry intruder. A sensitive nose, eye, cheek or mouth.
Jenny Clarke, president of the Association for Protection of Animals Algarve (APAA), a country dweller, ensures her dogs and cats are not in harm’s way during their seasonal passage. Highly dangerous to inquisitive pets.
Advice? “Change your walk for a while. Or get someone to knock the sacks into a bin and destroy them before getting ready to march. If a pet is attacked, the vet is the only person who can really help. And super-fast!” Not only excruciatingly painful but can cause long-term injury. Be warned. Humans are also at risk.
Community cat colony care
APAA’s main raison d’être – Spaying and Neutering Programme, (SNiP), successfully keeping the feral feline population down. But now, unfortunately, once more on the increase. “It goes in cycles.”
Jenny has been cat-trapping with Zélia Santos, who is undoubtedly their very own ‘Cat-Woman’. “We are going through a dreadful period of reproduction.”
Recently, the APAA team caught around 30 cats in three different colonies. “I have to hand it to Zélia.” Jenny is laughing. “The one that thinks it’s got away doesn’t know she’ll be back!” Maths is not everyone’s subject. But seven females and two males, un-SNiP’d in a colony, means three litters in a year with three to seven kits per female. Whoops! Calculator is needed here. Not all “kits” survive. Repetitive mating within the colony usually results in unhealthy, malformed animals, often eaten by the adults. Survivors add to the reproduction cycle. Another reason for SNiP.
The money is raised through APAA’s ‘Pop-Up’ shops and events. We’re getting ready for a busy 2024.
Dates for your diary:
- ‘Pop-Up’ shop at O Tasco, Senhora do Verde (Portimão). Monday, March 18, 12pm-3pm. Friendly menu always available. Book direct 282 471 769.
- APAA Special! Tuesday, March 19, at Recanto dos Mouros, Silves. All welcome for lunch 12.30(ish). Raffle and mini ‘Pop-Up’ table (members only for AGA meeting at 11.30am).
- Convento’bio Lagoa, Friday, April 5, 11am-4pm. Restaurant for all tastes.
All ‘Pop-Ups’ have premium-quality household goodies. Ornaments, bedding, toys, jewellery, ironing sets, hospitality trays.
Can’t get to a ‘Pop-Up’? Visit APAA’s charity shops in Alvor and Silves. Both are full of goodies, duvets, rugs, larger household items. Something special? Pop in, friendly staff to meet and greet. Not forgetting Jenny’s jams, preserves, marmalades and Jackie’s scrummy cookies!
Good news. Jess has found her forever home!
APAA: events.apaaportugal@gmail.com or info.apaaportugal@gmailcom
Cat Colonies: zelia.santos@live.co.uk
Article by APAA
