Spay/Neuter Your Cats!

[TWB Cat Sitter]

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

[colville09]

Thank you for posting this Wingless Bird, so well put…

[malumbu]

Not sure if you added Tomd that have not been neutered terrorising other cats in the area.  Happened round here.  Would have been tempted to castrate the tom if I'd caught it.  Water pistol was not a deterrent.  Vets bills due to various attacks on other moggies was not insignificant 

[TWB Cat Sitter]

23 hours ago, malumbu said:

Not sure if you added Tomd that have not been neutered terrorising other cats in the area.  Happened round here.  Would have been tempted to castrate the tom if I'd caught it.  Water pistol was not a deterrent.  Vets bills due to various attacks on other moggies was not insignificant 

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]

Edited Saturday at 22:04 by TWB Cat Sitter

[Nigello]

Folk can’t even be bothered to put a collar and bell around their moggy’s neck so the chance of getting them to sterilise said creatures seems tiny to me. 

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

If you've ever seen a cat caught in a hedge by its collar, you wouldn't use one either. 

[SpringTime]

Agree with a bell, or two maybe three. Stop these middle east mogs killing our birds   x

Edited Saturday at 12:10 by SpringTime

[1921]

Well said LWB ! 

 

[sebastiondangerfield]

Spotted a little flock of Dunnocks flying in and out of a hedge in Goodrich Road the other day. Cats will probably wipe them out soon.

[TWB Cat Sitter]

10 hours ago, Nigello said:

Folk can’t even be bothered to put a collar and bell around their moggy’s neck so the chance of getting them to sterilise said creatures seems tiny to me. 

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]

10 hours ago, SpringTime said:

Agree with a bell, or two maybe three. Stop these middle east mogs killing our birds   x

But we can train them to kill the foreign invaders, green sqwaky things, and the rats with feathers 

[TWB Cat Sitter]

10 hours ago, SpringTime said:

Agree with a bell, or two maybe three. Stop these middle east mogs killing our birds   x

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.

[Nigello]

Not as much stress as on the tiny birds! Please don’t let your valid concern for one species overshadow that for many others. Bells give mice, shrews and birds etc. a better chance than no bell at all. 

23 hours ago, Peckhamgatecrasher said:

If you've ever seen a cat caught in a hedge by its collar, you wouldn't use one either. 

Elastic collars are a good way of ensuring safety. 

[Peckhamgatecrasher]

It was an elastic collar. I've never used one since.

[hellosailor]

Absolutely right. 
The other issue is that rescue centres like Celia Hammond make it nearly impossible to adopt a kitten or cat that desperately needs a home. I know many many people who have tried to adopt and have been refused, and only one couple who have been deemed to have a good enough home. The reasons people have been refused have been that they aren't in a position to take two kittens - unless it's changed recently you weren't considered unless you took 2 as cats  wouldn't be homed without a companion. But lots of people can't afford to feed and insure 2 pets. Another reason I've heard several times is that the potential adoptee lives on a road, not an A road or the south circular but just a road. But what is the other option they're looking for? A country estate? Another reason a couple of friends have been refused is that they have jobs and Celia Hammond said that they were looking for people who were at home all day . So again, what are they looking for? People who can afford not to work? 

We are told 'adopt don't shop' but out of the many many families or individuals I know who have tried to give a loving home to a kitten / cat literally only a couple have been accepted, so have ended up buying a kitten. People who have had cats all their lives and adore cats. Of course it's important that adoptees are vetted but it's problematic that cat charities are deciding that a cat / kitten without a home would rather live in a cage at a rescue centre than with a loving person who has a job or lives on a road or cannot afford to pay for the upkeep of more than one pet. My friend has recently tried for months to adopt kittens or cats through various centres and although she was prepared to take two, was rejected by all rescue centres  as she lives on a (quiet) residential road in ED and doesn't work from home every day. She works from home 3 days a week. It's insane. 

 

[Sue]

2 hours ago, hellosailor said:

Absolutely right. 
The other issue is that rescue centres like Celia Hammond make it nearly impossible to adopt a kitten or cat that desperately needs a home. I know many many people who have tried to adopt and have been refused, and only one couple who have been deemed to have a good enough home. The reasons people have been refused have been that they aren't in a position to take two kittens - unless it's changed recently you weren't considered unless you took 2 as cats  wouldn't be homed without a companion. But lots of people can't afford to feed and insure 2 pets. Another reason I've heard several times is that the potential adoptee lives on a road, not an A road or the south circular but just a road. But what is the other option they're looking for? A country estate? Another reason a couple of friends have been refused is that they have jobs and Celia Hammond said that they were looking for people who were at home all day . So again, what are they looking for? People who can afford not to work? 

We are told 'adopt don't shop' but out of the many many families or individuals I know who have tried to give a loving home to a kitten / cat literally only a couple have been accepted, so have ended up buying a kitten. People who have had cats all their lives and adore cats. Of course it's important that adoptees are vetted but it's problematic that cat charities are deciding that a cat / kitten without a home would rather live in a cage at a rescue centre than with a loving person who has a job or lives on a road or cannot afford to pay for the upkeep of more than one pet. My friend has recently tried for months to adopt kittens or cats through various centres and although she was prepared to take two, was rejected by all rescue centres  as she lives on a (quiet) residential road in ED and doesn't work from home every day. She works from home 3 days a week. It's insane. 

 

That is absolutely ridiculous.

[malumbu]

We got two cats from Celia Hammond a few years ago, with no bother. They came round to check us out first. 

Looking at Google they score high, 4.5, there are a small number of 1 star reviews, mainly as some found staff a little brusque 

[hellosailor]

1 hour ago, malumbu said:

We got two cats from Celia Hammond a few years ago, with no bother. They came round to check us out first. 

Looking at Google they score high, 4.5, there are a small number of 1 star reviews, mainly as some found staff a little brusque 

I'm not suggesting that the staff are not good people, it's a fantastic charity to work or volunteer for and what they champion and advocate for is super important. It's great that you had a successful adoption through them and really good to hear that you had a positive experience but I was relaying that anecdotally the many people I know who have tried to rescue a cat from them have been turned down. I myself tried to adopt from them a few years ago and they nixed my application when I said I lived on a road which cars go down. They didn't even do a home visit, that was enough to rule us out. Hopefully things have changed since then to allow more animals to find a loving home. 

[TWB Cat Sitter]

On 15/12/2024 at 18:12, hellosailor said:

Absolutely right. 
The other issue is that rescue centres like Celia Hammond make it nearly impossible to adopt a kitten or cat that desperately needs a home. I know many many people who have tried to adopt and have been refused, and only one couple who have been deemed to have a good enough home. The reasons people have been refused have been that they aren't in a position to take two kittens - unless it's changed recently you weren't considered unless you took 2 as cats  wouldn't be homed without a companion. But lots of people can't afford to feed and insure 2 pets. Another reason I've heard several times is that the potential adoptee lives on a road, not an A road or the south circular but just a road. But what is the other option they're looking for? A country estate? Another reason a couple of friends have been refused is that they have jobs and Celia Hammond said that they were looking for people who were at home all day . So again, what are they looking for? People who can afford not to work? 

We are told 'adopt don't shop' but out of the many many families or individuals I know who have tried to give a loving home to a kitten / cat literally only a couple have been accepted, so have ended up buying a kitten. People who have had cats all their lives and adore cats. Of course it's important that adoptees are vetted but it's problematic that cat charities are deciding that a cat / kitten without a home would rather live in a cage at a rescue centre than with a loving person who has a job or lives on a road or cannot afford to pay for the upkeep of more than one pet. My friend has recently tried for months to adopt kittens or cats through various centres and although she was prepared to take two, was rejected by all rescue centres  as she lives on a (quiet) residential road in ED and doesn't work from home every day. She works from home 3 days a week. It's insane. 

 

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/
 

Edited Monday at 19:17 by TWB Cat Sitter

[Peckham native]

16 hours ago, hellosailor said:

Absolutely right. 
The other issue is that rescue centres like Celia Hammond make it nearly impossible to adopt a kitten or cat that desperately needs a home. I know many many people who have tried to adopt and have been refused, and only one couple who have been deemed to have a good enough home. The reasons people have been refused have been that they aren't in a position to take two kittens - unless it's changed recently you weren't considered unless you took 2 as cats  wouldn't be homed without a companion. But lots of people can't afford to feed and insure 2 pets. Another reason I've heard several times is that the potential adoptee lives on a road, not an A road or the south circular but just a road. But what is the other option they're looking for? A country estate? Another reason a couple of friends have been refused is that they have jobs and Celia Hammond said that they were looking for people who were at home all day . So again, what are they looking for? People who can afford not to work? 

We are told 'adopt don't shop' but out of the many many families or individuals I know who have tried to give a loving home to a kitten / cat literally only a couple have been accepted, so have ended up buying a kitten. People who have had cats all their lives and adore cats. Of course it's important that adoptees are vetted but it's problematic that cat charities are deciding that a cat / kitten without a home would rather live in a cage at a rescue centre than with a loving person who has a job or lives on a road or cannot afford to pay for the upkeep of more than one pet. My friend has recently tried for months to adopt kittens or cats through various centres and although she was prepared to take two, was rejected by all rescue centres  as she lives on a (quiet) residential road in ED and doesn't work from home every day. She works from home 3 days a week. It's insane. 

 

Please don't let this post put you off rehoming from a rescue. Yes Celia Hammond rehome kittens in pairs but there are plenty of single cats waiting for homes. People are not turned down only for living on a residential road or for working full time. Having volunteered at Celia Hammond for many years I've seen hundreds if not thousands of cats rehomed. I would imagine over 90% of those live on residential roads! The rehoming team work very hard to find the best cat for each home.

If you want to rehome a cat Celia Hammond Lewisham reception is open between 1pm and 5pm every Saturday & Sunday to drop in & meet for an initial chat.

Some of the cats looking for homes   https://www.celiahammond.org/animals-seeking-homes/lewisham/

Edited Monday at 10:43 by Peckham native

[Pugwash]

We were also turned down by Celia Hammond as we lived on a main road, Of the many cats we have had over the years - only one was run over. The others died of natural causes/old age. We have a cat flap into the garden and rarely have to use a litter tray (usually when kept indoors prior to a visit to a vet) 

[hellosailor]

On 16/12/2024 at 10:07, Peckham native said:

Please don't let this post put you off rehoming from a rescue. Yes Celia Hammond rehome kittens in pairs but there are plenty of single cats waiting for homes. People are not turned down only for living on a residential road or for working full time. Having volunteered at Celia Hammond for many years I've seen hundreds if not thousands of cats rehomed. I would imagine over 90% of those live on residential roads! The rehoming team work very hard to find the best cat for each home.

If you want to rehome a cat Celia Hammond Lewisham reception is open between 1pm and 5pm every Saturday & Sunday to drop in & meet for an initial chat.

Some of the cats looking for homes   https://www.celiahammond.org/animals-seeking-homes/lewisham/

I definitely don't mean to put people off trying to rehome from rescue centres like Celia Hammond, it's a wonderful thing to do. I'm just perplexed that so few potential people or families I know including my own has been accepted. I understand that the cat has to match the adoptee because no two animals are the same but I'm not talking about a family with a young child being refused a nervous cat or an individual with no cat being refused a cat who will only thrive with company, I'm talking about blanket refusal for the reasons I've discussed. It's puzzling that you have never encountered people being refused for living on a road or not working from home as I have heard it from friends again and again. 
As someone who volunteers at Celia Hammond could you expand further on what are the things that rule potential adoptees out?

What are the criteria you have to meet? I know criteria will differ in some situations with certain cats with specific needs but it would be helpful to understand what the criteria are in general?

[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
 

Edited yesterday at 23:47 by TWB Cat Sitter

[march46]

@TWB Cat Sitter Without wanting to distract from this important topic, please refrain from flyposting on lampposts - this is also something that can result in a fine. I’ve noticed multiple stickers advertising your business stuck to lampposts in Dulwich Village and East Dulwich.
 https://www.southwark.gov.uk/parking-streets-and-transport/street-care/fly-posting

[Sue]

13 hours ago, march46 said:

@TWB Cat Sitter Without wanting to distract from this important topic, please refrain from flyposting on lampposts - this is also something that can result in a fine. I’ve noticed multiple stickers advertising your business stuck to lampposts in Dulwich Village and East Dulwich.
 https://www.southwark.gov.uk/parking-streets-and-transport/street-care/fly-posting

I've noticed these flyposted all over the place, not just on  lampposts.

It makes me feel very sad whenever I see references to wingless birds in relation to cats 😥

Edited 3 hours ago by Sue