There are 4 six week old (in my opinion) black kittens and mum (and family) at the wentworth pub in sheffield just near the arena. They along with mummy are spending alot of time on the heater and seem to be keeping warm.

Can anyone help please, unfortunately I have no way of helping at this point (apart from food drops).

Not only do the kittens need rescuing while they can still be rehomed and incorporated into homes, how do we get the rest neutered/spayed and all fed .

The number of litters coming out of this place scares me we need to sort it now.

I need help rescuing the kittens and getting all the family sorted what else can we do.

Please help urgently i havent been able to take food today and they are
starving

At least two kittens have eye infections


PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE PLEASE HELP

Would wentworth come under the Doncaster Cat Protection League
They have money and will help with this sort of thing. They also have people who have traps that could help catch them I think

I know someone who has a cat trap that someone could borrow - but obviously it would need to be checked everyday. I think also that BARC Barnsley Animal Rescue have a connection with the Wentworth area and they do cat rescue as well.

Maybe email them and see if they could help?
Poor things - each cat left un neutered will produce thousands in the end

It sheffield it near sheffield arena sorry for not been clear its the went wentworth pub near sheffield arena next to fogemasters and arena sqaure pub

Oh right

Maybe Magsie will be able to help with them, but she will need help
Poor lady has been out trapping most of ths week and sh'es a bit under the weather aren't u Magsie

If a trap was placed - would someone be able to watch
Could you phone the sheffield rspca and ask them what they advise and if they could give you some vouchers for them all - they would do them at their clinic later on then

i think i could deal with vouchers and helping watch anyone know anyone who would take the kittens?

Please help me help them they are going to all die if we dont....please

Anyone??? please

I'm afraid that I can't help with the trapping or the cost of medical bills, but if you need someone for care and foster space then I can offer that for a litter or two.

Hi there,

Try ringing this number 0114 249 3330, it's the Cats Protection League, Sheffield Hallam and they should be able to help/advise. My heart goes out to the poor little mite and it's heartbreaking to watch them just fade away :( . Good luck and let me know how you get on.

Hi

I could help with the checking of traps, and/or feeding if we can get some traps in place.........but where do we get them from?

We can help with bills, if none of the big ones will. If Medusa can foster until rehomed, that would be good.

pm Magsie and see about traps or did u phone the rspca sheffield branch?
We can always get hold of a trap but the worry is of it being stolen whilst at site or the kts/cats been messed with once in the trap and if they are left. Again, Magsie can advise is the cpl can't.
But the cpl and Hallam are a bigger organisation so will take some pressure of Magsie doing it all

We've got a spare room for any bubs if you need us, although like Meds we are definately not in a postition to help financially :hihi: Gotta love being a student haven't you?;) It's the beginning of the new semester next week but if I can be of any help between lectures and work then I will be! Monkey am going to PM you xxx

I dont have any way or the skill of capturing and with 5 cats and 2 dogs i have no room in the inn :( going tonight with some food for mummy but it all i can do :(

I'd love to be able to help you out with the trapping etc, but it's just not possible in my physical situation. It also takes practice to trap and handle ferals out of traps and I'm out of practice and minus one arm. I'm sure that we can coordinate someone to trap, someone to transport, someone to look after the bills and someone to care. Once we've got that lot together then the little ones should be looking towards a brighter future.

I have been and fed everyone, the kittens are extremely friendly there are 3 at about 6 weeks and one about 14 weeks they are quite friendly but extremely hungry , all i can do is feed them every day

Do you think that you could swipe the kittens while they're eating if they're friendly? You know, just quietly picking them up and moving them from the plate outside to the plate inside the basket?

If we can get the babies inside then trapping mummy becomes less of an issue because we don't have to worry that we're separating her from her babies who are dependent on her for food and warmth.

they seem to be eating fine on there own do we have to take mummy or could that wait. sorry if i seem insensitive

If they're eating fine on their own then no, they don't have to go with mummy if you've got other cats to act as general carers and kitten washers (like my Billy). They can be separated from mummy and handled as two completely separate cases, which may be very positive for the babies as if mummy is feral then they need to learn how to become house cats from friendly cats giving them lots of help and instruction.

If they were brought to my place with their mummy then they would be separated from her as soon as we were sure that they were eating properly and gaining weight on solids anyway because mummy's milk needs to dry up for her to be spayed as soon as possible. That's the standard process with litters getting ready for homing.

Whatever happens, the babies are the most vulnerable when it comes to lack of food, the cold weather, fleas or attack from other cats and so they are the number one priority and we would be unable to trap mummy if we didn't know that we could also get the babies. The mummy cats need spaying, but they're a whole lot more able to care for themselves than small kittens.

If i go tomorrow and get three kittens can anyone take them ...also one at 14-16 week are there homes for these. If there is we will take ham / food etc and get tomorrow :O)

If you get the kittens then I'm happy to come and collect them for the duration until they can be found homes. This should allow for time for veterinary consultations and the funding to pay for the vet bills to be arranged.

Right iv been down tonight i have more info they are 9 weeks and somone feeds them every day. Are they too old to rehome?

Ah- at 9 weeks they're just a little bit more complicated. They're starting to be big enough to defend themselves and to have their own opinions, which may be a benefit or an issue depending on what their opinions are!

If they've been around someone who feeds them daily then they may be able to be handled quite well and it's definitely more rosy for their future to be house cats if possible than to be a feral living out. The best way to achieve that is to bring them in to be with friendly cats who can teach them how to be.

If they're 9 weeks then we can definitely treat mummy and babies as separate cases- if she's feral then mum will need trapping, neutering and releasing rather than rehoming, but the babies could be happy, healthy friendly pets if they are brought in soon.

Any joy finding a trap yet then?

Two young black cats were seen at the Arena roundabout yesterday 3pm. Monkeyness - are these two part of the colony you were posting about? Or are there more?

Can't bear to think of them out in this weather, hungry and freezing. And possibly breeding!

Can anyone help with an update please. Homes are available and I can provide traps as I said previously.

Yes and there another pregnant :(

Oh on plus side they are all well fed, the man who owns the wentworth pub feeds them all every morning and every evening without fail :)

so what r u after then Magsie?
Jut to make sure they are trapped and spayed?

Monkey - it;s not enough for them to be fed although it's really good of the landlord to do this. They need trapping and neutering otherwise the area will be overrun. Cats Protection says something like 20,000 cats can result from one unspayed cat over an 8 year period!
Can you give precise details please.
How many are there now? How many are pregnant? Can they be caught other than by a trap? Where do they shelter? If they have adequate shelter, then perhaps there is a possibility of them being returned to site once neutered but one of these two cats was seen running across the main road.

The 9 week old kits posted by Monkey on 23 Jan will be 18 weeks old now, and will probably be in season in four weeks time, adding to the already big problem.
I and others are only too willing to help but can't if we don't have details. Thanks.

?????!!!!!

Is there anyway to find out if a local rescue organisation is already managing this colony of ferals or not?

I know from an RSPCA Inspector that any ferals they trap are tested for blood disorders. If they're found to be infected then they're euthanised, but if not, they're neutered and released in an environment where they can help keep the vermin population down.

The kitties are probably scudding across the main road to see if anyone's been careless with their KFC debris.

Hi djeli, no, if a local rescue were managing the colony (if in fact it is a colony, may only be a couple now) then they would have been neutered. I can only summise that the landlord is feeding them and I have been told that some kits have been taken by the staff of the local steel company.
No firm details I'm afraid.

I am waiting for update from Monkeyness before any action can be taken. But action needs to be taken before any further harm comes to them. Too late for one of them, already pregnant.

Is the pub closed now? Because I always thought the cats around there were either pub or factory cats? The pub people used to feed them?

I went there last year for a drink with another forummer and although there were a lot of cats/kittens about, they were really friendly and tame due to being petted by the pub patrons.

eta: For some reason I didn't see the later pages!! d'oh!! :blush:

Is the pub closed now? Because I always thought the cats around there were either pub or factory cats? The pub people used to feed them?

I went there last year for a drink with another forummer and although there were a lot of cats/kittens about, they were really friendly and tame due to being petted by the pub patrons.

eta: For some reason I didn't see the later pages!! d'oh!! :blush:

(my bold)

What you like, Rubes?! :hihi:

Hi djeli, no, if a local rescue were managing the colony (if in fact it is a colony, may only be a couple now) then they would have been neutered. I can only summise that the landlord is feeding them and I have been told that some kits have been taken by the staff of the local steel company.
No firm details I'm afraid.

I am waiting for update from Monkeyness before any action can be taken. But action needs to be taken before any further harm comes to them. Too late for one of them, already pregnant.

Ah, okay. Thanks, Magsie.

Ruby, while you were having a drink you could have caught them!! Unless I get some info soon from Monkeyness it looks like I'll have to go for a drink at the Wentworth too. Gulp. x

Ruby, while you were having a drink you could have caught them!! Unless I get some info soon from Monkeyness it looks like I'll have to go for a drink at the Wentworth too. Gulp. xI don't think we'd have been very popular with the pub people, if we had. We did ask about it, but they seemed quite relaxed about having shedloads of random cats roaming all over their pub :D

It has been a few months now, has anyone actually asked the pub people what's the story with these cats yet?

Magsie. if you need a drinking partner sos - mean someone to help you catch them ( lol) Count me in, will come and help if needed, may need a few hands to help get them.

Now you're talking Nicholls!!
All I need is Monkeyness to tell me how many there are? How many are pregnant? Where they reside? Are they friendly enough to catch without traps, which are awful things. What happened to the last lot of kits?
If they aren't causing the pub any problems then let's get them neutered and returned to where they live. I've offered to help provide food if need be.
All too often steel companies have closed, then the pubs have closed and then the cats have been left to their own devices. Or worse. Rentokil normally goes in.
Thanks for your offer, Nicholls. I need to meet up with you anyway!

OMG thats all we need - u two psssst in a pub car park

Why don't you join us Rain? The last time I was with you in a pub car park it was a life changing experience! No, on second thoughts, don't join us!!! Bloomin' cats. x

OMG thats all we need - u two psssst in a pub car park

Now that'd be worth a giggle! xxx

:hihi:

Magsie. if you need a drinking partner sos - mean someone to help you catch them ( lol) Count me in, will come and help if needed, may need a few hands to help get them.

Me too ;)
Even if the pub enjoys having the cats around I am sure that them being neutered would be acceptable and a lot better for all concerned..especially the cats.

Do you know, I knew Moonbird would come on board once we mentioned a pub!!! You're on, girl.
I can just see dozens of us in the car park, the landlord will think it's his birthday. He might even give some of the profits to Rain! xx

Do you know, I knew Moonbird would come on board once we mentioned a pub!!! You're on, girl.
I can just see dozens of us in the car park, the landlord will think it's his birthday. He might even give some of the profits to Rain! xx

Haha the cat catching forum meet that would be different :hihi:

Yep Magsie, sos not got back to ya - Busy week. It really aint a bad idea, perhaps if we all meet up and speak to the landlord and explain to him we can get him on board to help - could go in disguise as heavy drinkers!!, no seriously Im up for this can make it a social affair as well and suss out what really is happening and how many there are - poor bloke wont know whats hit him once he meets us all from the forum - Im sure once he understands we have the cats interest at heart he'll understand, he must be an animal lover or he wouldnt keep feeding themx = Is that 3 coffee's then?x

Hes called Barry and he is absolutely lovely, I will speak to him tonight if you like?

When you going to do it as I dont mind helping and I spend a lot of time in there :)

Will they all be released back when there done. Also we need to not capture his two cats duke and duchess otherwise he wont be best pleased LOL

Easy to spot though 99% of the ferals down there are black

There not the parents are they monkey?.

Anyhow I wil help capture if you need me. Any evening is fine with me

Looks like it could be quite a gathering the more the merrier, get plenty of baskets then Maggsie :hihi:

Over to Magsie then for the next stage... nicholls5 COFFEE ??:o :hihi:

Wots happened with these?

Monkey - have emailed you love cos you may have all the info we need. Barry sounds a star. This should be so much easier now that we have Barry on board. Sounds like he'll have lots of extra customers too!
Thanks for your offer of help Monkey, and everyone else too. Will be in touch.

Monkey, still haven't heard from you! Another week's gone since you said you would speak to the lovely Barry. They will ALL be pregnant soon, if not already!

How many are there? What ages? What condition? Can they be caught or do they need to be trapped. Information, we need information!!

Is the mother cat a fluffy black cat with a white tail tip? If it is her I have seen her quite a few times at Carbrook Hall. The staff used to feed her, she comes to drink from the pond at night sometimes.
Do you have any kittens still needing homes?
I would love to have a kitten. I already have one cat, she is 5 years old now and I believe her mother was a stray too, but she is one of the friendliest cats I have ever met.

No idea Peach. That's the kind of info we are needing from Monkey!

Having had no communication at all from Monkeyness about the numbers involved, a friend is going down this week to speak to the pub manager.

Now comes the crunch. Has anyone got any DEFINITE funds/full CP or RSPCA vouchers for their spaying? Rumours say there are a lot of cats and I am unable to pick up the bill on this one!

Please only reply with definite answers, I haven't the time to fundraise myself. 8 hours spent yesterday trapping Pearl Works cats, one of which has a terrible limp from a badly infected leg. There are hundreds of cats down town, absolutely appalling. The situation which could have been sorted years ago is now out of control. There is no help for the ferals and they are breeding like ..... well, cats!

I have spoken to Barry, a sunday morning about 11 is best as its quiet and they all go for their dinner at that time. some of them are already pregnant and one just had a litter. ill try and get some vouchers, which vets do you use ?

Jackie from Cat Abuse Treatment Society has been down for the last two days. This is going to be a very long process and I'll contact individuals who have offered genuine help. Drivers will particularly be needed for Jackie to go backwards and forwards to the site in an endeavour to get the cats' trust.
The RSPCA have kindly offered to pay for the neutering.
Moderator, could you please close the topic, thanks.

I think the RSPCA help with feral cats.

Glennis, the feral cat population in Sheffield is in the thousands - they have been allowed to breed to biblical proportions without any control and the result is terrible suffering.
The original posting was four months ago and this is a prime example of how quickly cats can breed if the situation is not addressed - and quickly.
The Arena cats are giving birth as we speak and their numbers will therefore possibly quadruple during the summer.
Just one example of how difficult it is to deal with ferals - one 7 month old pregnant kit at Pearl works in the city centre has taken 36 hours to trap before being successfully trapped very early this morning. Traps cannot be left and sitting for 6-8 hours at a time is a soul destroying job therefore the dearth of volunteers.
The RSPCA have kindly offered to pay for the large amount of Arena neutering and Jackie from CATS is going down 3 times a week to gain the cats confidence with food. She is hoping to take the kits away when the time is appropriate to hopefully socialise and rehome.
This operation is going to take a long, long time and therefore offers of funding, tinned food, would be helpful. It will be very stressful and time-consuming for Jackie and her few volunteers, that's for sure.

Does Jackie need my help at all Magsie? I dont think ill be able to try to catch any of them but can help out at her place if she needs it, if you let me know, I will give her a ring but dont want to annoy her by ringing her!!x

Aw Gina, what a lovely offer. Drop me an email would you please so that I can reply without a PM. maggieskinner@blueyonder.co.uk xx

Will do! I dont want to call her because I rang her last week and she was at the seaside :lol: Felt like a right goon, kept saying sorry, but I plan on stealing lots of cats this year, im thinking 8 :suspect: xxx

I would help catch the cats i havent got transport im afraid :(
but wouldnt mind sitting and waiting or helping in some way.

i could probably help in the evening if that's any use, and have transport for any caught ones to be taken to Jackie's or wherever they're going. Drop me a line if there's anything i can do Magsie

What happened in the end? Did the kittens get rehomed? I hope so!!

I feel so silly now, only read the first page and then posted, didn't realise it was still ongoing!! I can donate some food. Any particular type required or will anything do? :)

RMS - that's so kind of you thank you. Jackie took a boot full of food down today, still there I would think. The cats were so hungry the other day and altho the landlord has been doing his best to feed them cos of the large numbers, it's just about impossible unless you have a band of volunteers to help out.
Rather than take food to the sanctuary, CATS has a food bin in Tesco, Herries Road, Asda Chapeltown, Morrisons Catcliffe. And then there's the pub of course where the cats are living behind. I believe it is called Wentworth House Hotel, Milford Street. I can accept food at my place S11.
You're not silly at all RMS, the initial posting way back in January was about some kittens. They apparently went to a guy at the steel works, although I am sorry I cannot confirm this. It was Monkeyness' posting, perhaps she can clarify.
Thanks for your kind offer - any tinned food would be great. We are ok for bikkies thanks.

Do you still meet regular for this? I love cats and want to help them as much as I can. I dont have transport but I dont work due to illness so have a lot of time, even nightshift since I'm a night owl. Would just need teaching how to trap. Can afford a bit of food too.

Also have room for temp fosters but I'm going away soon and after that will be adopting a ferret. Might not be a prob tho!

I have time on my hands to help out too - can offer lifts.

(I'm unemployed and just registered for the dole -urgh- so figure I should do something in the community)

I know people keep saying the arena but whereabouts? I only know the part the tram stops at as I never need to get of there.

Can provide flasks of chai tea for night watchemen.

Stainboy, you're funny! Could just do with a chai tea now!
The cats are actually at Forgemasters steel works near the Arena roundabout and the ones in better health are feeding behind the Wentworth pub.
Will bear you in mind love for temp fostering but if people's suggestions of numbers for stables etc comes to fruition, then hopefully the cats will be ok in stables rather than houses. Not sure yet but if there are lots and lots of young kits I'll bear your offer in mind love. There are quite a few dead kittens lying around which have been buried at CATS sanctuary. Poor things. x

There are at least two litters of new kittens :( and one defo pregnant

I'm going to take a couple of cameras along with me, so I can show pictures of how dire the situation is.

Yes we know Monkey. The pity is that if the situation had been dealt with earlier, there wouldn't be so many pregnant cats, new kittens and dead kittens. The cats that are pregnant are no more than kits themselves.
We're trapping at 2.30 today, and Scozzie and Jane from Furry Friends at around 4.30 then up to Dore and Totley vets. Why it's left to individuals I can never figure out but that's life in the world of ferals. Not many friends for ferals.

Ferals or not their still living breathing animals and them been left is not on.

If they were left for the colonies to grow even bigger than they already are im sure more professions would be complaining and then the council would probably do something about it,but from what I have read on here its already a dire situation and i'm just glad there are people than can help. I only wish I could be more hands on that writing to cat food companies but im a single mum so I can't. Praise to all those that are helping.

http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/magsie_bucket/?action=view&current=deadkit.jpg&newest=1
http://s282.photobucket.com/albums/kk264/magsie_bucket/?action=view&current=whereferalslive.jpg&newest=1

Jackie has cleared out some of the area she can get to in Forgemasters. This particular kitten was found under all this mess. It's no wonder Rainrescue, I and others get the angry head on.
Again, I wonder why individuals and the very smallest charities like CATS and Furry Friends have to struggle to stay afloat when there's all this cruelty going on in our own city centre.
People come back from holidays abroad telling stories about ferals, well there's a story to be told just about everywhere in our city. Cambridge Street, Walkley, Duke Street, Fitzalan Square etc etc etc. It's tragic.
Thank goodness that the pub landlord is helping us to help these cats. He's been great.
Thankfully the RSPCA are giving vouchers for neutering so that's one cost that can be forgotten.

(Sorry I seem to have made a mess of Photobucket - in a bit of a rush) x

Is there any specific kind of cat food you need people to donate ie. kitten food or is it any brand?

Magsie, please let me know how I can help. I'm working during the day but have time most evenings and weekends. Could also maybe help with temp fostering a couple.

Please let me know, it's awful that these things are just allowed to happen!!!

RIP poor little kits xxx

Please bear with me with replying to offers of help. We need to see what we actually catch first. Could be pregnant, could be very ill, etc.
Foodwise, anything but not biscuits. Jackie feeds them Costcutter biscuits but not any other own brand. They seem to make the cats sick up.
Tinned food - any brand - is great. We can mix cheaper food up with more expensive food. The cats are starving hungry x

Thanks Magsie, gonna try and get together a little collection of tinned food whenever I can afford and then pass it on for the little babes.

I find it unbelievable that we let things get to such a state in our own country and so few people know about it - so so sad that this has to happen and will continue to happen until people take responsibility for neutering their cats :(

Please contact me if I can help with you trapping plight and I am hoping at the weekend to pick up some food for you too. Best wishes to all those trying to help out these cats

can I just ask does anyone know of trapping in the Aston area?

my cat was wild- she was about 6 months old when she initially started visiting and it took around 6 months for her to accept me/my partner and a year for her to be 'our cat'

shes spayed- her left ear has been cut which we were told was a mark of her being spayed

just curious really

No, sorry Cat I don't. Thank goodness she's spayed. Am sorry she's missing love.

Snagglepuss, if you are collecting can I drop some off at yours as it will stop everyone descending on the rescue whilst they are so busy. Im in S12. Otherwise I can help with delivering / collecting - whatever I can do. Thanksl

I've got a small sample of purina cat food, enough to feed one adult cat a dish but im going to pick up a big bag of cat food tomorrow hopefully. Any news on whats happening with the cats and where they're all going???

Nicholls5, am not exactly collecting just been getting a few extra tins when been shopping for mine, to build up a bulk lot to give when other stocks are running low, but you are welcome to bring some to mine if you want and then when I've got a big box full will let Magsie know and get it to the ferals.