Second kitten adoption day

Queenstown Cat Rescue trustee and co-founder Ruth de Reus (left) and trustee Mayumi Rowcroft hold kittens at the trust's first kitten adoption day this year in January. Photo by James Beech.

Queenstown Cat Rescue co-founder Ruth de Reus said it was the busiest kitten season so far, but put it down to more people being aware of the charity.

The cat rescue also covers Cromwell and ''this makes us more determined to target the mother cats to have them desexed to try bring the breeding under control'', Ms de Reus said.

''We currently have 13 kittens in our care, with a further 15 or more to uplift.''

However, collecting and consequently saving the kittens from becoming feral was dependent on the availability of volunteers willing to foster the kittens until permanent homes were found.

''Sadly, many of the foster families are here for a short-term period only ... [and] many local families already have cats of their own and are working and too busy to foster.''

Older and feral cats are captured, desexed and ear-tipped (removal of the ear tip) for identification, while the kittens are socialised, desexed and found homes.

The adoption day will be held at 2a Miller Pl (off Broadview Rise) in Fernhill from 12pm until 4pm on Saturday, March 2.

Kittens will range from 7 weeks old. An adoption fee applies, which covers the desexing and microchipping costs.

All kittens on the day will be ready to go home with their new owners.