TWB Cat Sitter

People may be worried about the cost of spaying/neutering & microchipping their cats (particularly those that did not adopt through a charity, which naturally take care of all of these precautionary steps that breeders do not take prior to selling). For those of you looking for financial assistance (spay/neuter/microchip schemes) please check below for your nearest branch. - At £10, there's really no excuse, & saves owners from a £500 fine in future 🙂 https://www.cats.org.uk/what-we-do/neutering/find-a-vet-new-scheme

Please rescue. There are plenty of kittens waiting in shelters for a loving home. Try reaching out to https://straycatclub.org.uk/ You can also find an endless list of shelters down below: https://www.catchat.org/index.php/cat-rescue-centres-uk-ireland You should be vetted to ensure you can provide a suitable environment. Unlike breeders, shelters ensure kittens have been spayed/neutered, microchipped & recieve their vaccination.

hellosailor, I feel you on this one. People continue to breathe life into the misconceptions that cats are low-maintenance, natural wanderers or that they can't be prevented from accessing a road - all of which no doubt contributes to these harsh measures. Shelters would do better using their position & platforms to educate rather than applying blanket rules that alienate potential adopters. It does sound like there are inconsistencies in the way Celia Hammond operates. I know of people who have adopted despite not providing a truly suitable environment for their cats. Personally, I was heartbroken to learn that two of the kittens that I had fostered, after being adopted, would later go "missing" on a regular basis. It's a stark reminder that while safety precautions are crucial, overly rigid policies may push well-meaning people toward buying instead of adopting, undermining the very mission of rescue organisations. TWB has taken the initiative to lead by example, teaching clients the importance of mental & physical enrichment, & having policies in place to prevent, for example, the dangers that come with giving cats access to the streets. It has become far too commonplace to see posts regarding cats who have been run over, only for the owners to adopt & repeat the cycle all over again. If shelters could provide insight on why these measures are in place & solutions, these charities would not only free space within their shelters but educate the public & the overall standards of responsible pet ownership in London. Celia Hammond is a charity most are familiar with, but there are so many others listed within this link; https://www.catchat.org/index.php/cat-rescue-centres-uk-ireland An up & coming charity that is not found in this link, that deserves an honorable mention is https://straycatclub.org.uk/

Hi SpringTime, I completely understand the concern for protecting birds, but using bells on cats is a bit more complicated. While they may reduce hunting success, they're not always effective & can cause stress for some cats, who are highly sensitive to sound. A better solution is to ensure cats are kept indoors during peak bird activity & providing plenty of enrichment at home to satisfy their hunting instincts. There's a terrible misconception that cats do not require as much mental & physical enrichment as dogs do. But they do, if not more so.

Hi Nigello, Many spayed/neutered & microchipped cats actually don't wear collars, as they often go missing & can pose risks. Microchipping is far more reliable for reuniting lost cats with their guardians. Some of our clients even keep sacks of collars on standby because their cats frequently return without them - a comical but telling example of how impractical collars can be. A major contributor to unspayed/unneutered cats & kittens is purchasing from breeders, where these measures are often overlooked. Adopting from shelters, on the other hand, ensures all precautionary steps - like spaying/neutering, microchipping, as well as vaccinations - are already in place.

Malumbu, you're absolutely right. The vet bills due to attacks on neighbouring cats are certainly not insignificant at all. The wounds can even lead to fatalities. I always urge clients, neighbours & community posters to target the root cause, as opposed to skirting around the underlying & often persistent issue. Connecting with local organisations like Celia Hammond Animal Trust, Cats Protection or Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) initiatives is a longterm solution. This is highlighted, although briefly, under Improving Community Wellbeing. - I'd also like to highlight that if ever unsure whether the culprit is intact, owned or feral, & are hesitant to report, just in case it's a neighbour's neutered cat, you can call upon a Scan Angel or our team at TWB to check for a microchip first. - If the culprit does happen to be a neighbour's neutered cat, there are a variety of solution; both immediate & longterm that I would be more than happy to help with. Please do not hesitate to reach out to me at [email protected]

It's hard to believe that in 2024, we're still seeing countless posts about lost kittens, heavily pregnant & missing cats, abandoned litters & strays struggling to survive. Every photo of tiny, helpless kittens found in bushes or by the roadside is a painful reminder of a problem that's entirely preventable. It doesn't have to be this way. We've come too far to still be facing these avoidable tragedies. Spaying & neutering is not just a suggestion, it's a responsibility. It protects our felines from a host of health & behavioural challenges. I want to take a moment to share why this is critical; Overpopulation Crisis Thousands of cats & kittens already wait in shelters for a second chance. Unplanned litters only add to these heartbreaking statistics, with many never finding homes. Not all shelters have a non-destruction (no-kill) policy. Health Benefits Spaying eliminates the risk of uterine infections & drastically reduces the chances of breast cancer/mammary tumors in females. Neutering prevents testicular cancer & reduces the likelihood of territorial marking & aggression in males. Reducing Strays Fewer unplanned litters means fewer strays & feral cats living on the streets, where they face dangers like cars, predators & disease. Did you know that strays have a lifespan of 2-5 years? Supporting Local Ecosystems Furthermore, feral & stray cats can unintentionally discrupt local ecosystems by hunting birds & small mammals. By spaying & neutering, we can reduce this impact while also ensuring that feral cats are cared for through managed colonies. Improving Community Wellbeing Neutering helps control roaming & fighting among intact males, creating safer & calmer neighbourhoods for everyone. If you or someone you know has recently purchased, adopted or found a kitten or stray, make it a priority to reach out to your vets or connect with local organisations like Celia Hammond Animal Trust, Cats Protection or Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) initiatives in your area. Many offer free or low-cost spay & neuter services, ensuring this lifesaving option is accessible to all. Most professionals recommend kittens be spayed & neutered at 4 months. All kittens should be spayed & neutered by the time they hit 6 months. Kittens should not be given access to roam outdoors until they have been spayed or neutered, as kittens can get pregnant as early as 4 months { !!! } East Dulwich is a cat-loving community, whether we have a little lion of our own or not, we tend to take the initiative to post what we believe to be missing cats, but the greater issue is that many cats are not being spayed or neutered. So please, let's sow the seed of change for 2025 & educate our friends, family & community on the importance of spaying & neutering our cats, & put an end to overbreeding. Thank you x

Situated in the heart of East Dulwich, The Wingless Bird is an exclusive cat sitting service which tailors to the individual needs of you & your cat. The Wingless Bird is dedicated to providing the highest quality of care, using over 10 years of experience working alongside vets, charities & shelters, whilst maintaining the most competitive rates to date. Through an exceptional interest in working with timid, feral & cat colonies The Wingless Bird services can & have been particularly beneficial to those who have rescued &/or nervous cats & cats with a troubled history. The Wingless Bird is a registered, bonded & insured professional London pet sitter, based in East Dulwich, providing home visits, as a stress-free alternative to catteries. Feline First Aid, Fear-Free certified, DBS checked, & Insured, with a higher education in feline behaviour. Due to the popularity & success of TWB { The Wingless Bird }, we have finally branched out to accommodate areas beyond East Dulwich, now covering West Dulwich, Herne Hill, Peckham, Nunhead, Forest Hill, Sydenham, Crystal Palace & Norwood. Whether you are on holiday, in hospital or suffering a disability, busy or away for lengthy periods of time, at home & need extra support... The Wingless Bird will provide the undivided care & attention that every cat needs. As a local professional feline behaviourist & cat sitter, we guide our clients through seasonal newsletters, as well as helpful tips, tricks & facts over at www.Instagram.com/the.wingless.bird { & blog, "Ailuro", coming soon @ Ailuro.org } so please feel free to follow to keep updated & learn all that there is to know about providing the highest quality of feline care at home { our aim is to create a rippling effect to raise the bar in cat care all across London; providing free education to change common misconception that lead to every day preventable issues }. As for questions &/or concerns regarding missing cats, newborn kittens or behavioural issues, please forward to [email protected] or submit to our official website www.thewinglessbird.com . All of our TWB Birds // Cat Sitters carry scanners to assist in reunited lost cats with their humans. The Wingless Bird is a 5 star rated pet sitting service on Google & Facebook. We are fully equipped to accommodate for multi-pet households too, with experience caring for free-roaming bunnies, guinea pigs, hamsters, reptiles, fish & a variety of exotic birds. Feline First Aid, Fear-Free certified, DBS checked & Insured. Learn more by visiting our website www.TheWinglessBird.com or contact us at [email protected] for more information. Warmest, TWB www.TheWinglessBird.com https://www.facebook.com/TheWinglessBird

Hindmans Rd will be handing out goodies 🎃

Hi Neighbours! With Halloween fast approaching, let's make it easy for families to find those welcoming, spooky doorsteps around East Dulwich. If your street is planning to hand out treats, share the location here! It'll help families plan their routes & make sure no little ghouls & goblins miss out on the fun. Looking forward to a safe & festive Halloween 🎃 Here's one of our oh-so adorable little lions @ twb. as we're all getting into the Halloween spirit!

Good Afternoon, EDF! We have recently updated our job openings. Now searching for our Peckham, Dulwich & Forest Hill TWB Birds. - All TWB Birds will need to live in the immediate catchment, have reliable transportation & must be available to accommodate over the Christmas period. More information @ https://www.thewinglessbird.com/careers

Cats & dogs are not an ideal option for a child's first pet. I would recommend opting for a more low-maintenance animal, such as fish or hamsters. The issue is when children get bored & the responsibility falls on to the parent, but the parent doesn't have the enthusiasm to train a dog or provide daily enrichment for a cat. They are expensive, & vet bills do add up. Eventually they end up being put up for adoption, which is incredibly sad, as these animals build connections. To genuine lovers of animals, they are family. - having said this, if the above doesn't apply to you, I would recommend https://www.celiahammond.org/