THE Wirral branch of cat welfare charity has launched an urgent appeal for donations of kitten food to support the increasing number of pregnant cats, new mothers and kittens in its care.
The team at Cats Protection North Wirral works year-round to provide the necessary nutrition and care for these vulnerable animals.
To continue this vital work, the charity is asking for donations of Lactol powdered milk for new-borns and kitten food meat pouches.
Ellen Griffith, admissions officer and fosterer, said: "Raising kittens is an extremely demanding process for both mother cats and our wonderful fosterers.
"It begins with making sure that pregnant cats receive a nutrient-rich diet to give birth to strong, healthy kittens.
"Once a pregnancy is confirmed, it’s important for mum to be fed kitten food, which is packed with essential nutrients. Ideally this diet should start up to six weeks before birth to help her maintain her weight and build the strength needed for a healthy delivery.
For the first four to six weeks kittens rely heavily on their mother's milk, with the first few days being especially critical. At around four weeks they gradually transition to kitten food, which is essential for developing strong bones, healthy joints, good digestion, and strong teeth. Each kitten can eat between three to four pouches of food per day, along with their mother's milk and eventually dry food. For an average litter of four kittens, this means 16 pouches daily, plus the mother’s needs.
Although currently in kitten season, Cats Protection North Wirral supports kittens and pregnant cats year-round.
Detailing recent cases, Ellen said: "In December 2023, we faced a challenging situation involving 17 cats and four tiny, two-week-old kittens whose mother was missing. We needed to hand-rear these kittens which was crucial for their survival.
"One kitten, weighing just 150 grams, was not expected to survive.
"However, our fosterers were determined to try and bottle-fed these kittens every three hours for three weeks.
"Against the odds, after nearly 1,000 feeds and 12 containers of powdered Lactol, all four kittens began to thrive and have since found loving homes.
"In April 2024 a young cat arrived who had become pregnant at just six months old. She was too slim to produce enough milk for her kittens, so we stepped in with additional bottle feeding. Despite the odds, the four surviving kittens were successfully rehomed.
"In May, we rescued two litters from the same household. Out of the initial 10 kittens, sadly only seven survived due to severe malnutrition and inadequate care. Intensive care and feeding helped the remaining kittens regain their health, and they are now thriving.
“As of June, we have several urgent cases:
"A one-year-old stray due any day with five large kittens.
"Another one-year-old cat expecting up to five kittens.
"A 10-month-old stray that gave birth to four kittens and needed specialist treatment.
"A two-year-old cat that arrived with three underweight, one-week-old kittens.
"An 18-month-old cat arriving soon with five underweight, four-week-old kittens.
“Our resources are stretched thin, and we desperately need help to care for these pregnant cats and their kittens.
"We would be incredibly grateful for donations of Lactol powdered milk, kitten food meat pouches, or monetary contributions."
Donations can be made through the Cats Protection North Wirral Amazon wishlist here: http://amzn.to/4cfSH04 or at their donation bin located at Tesco, Bidston Link Road, Birkenhead, CH43 7AA
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