This Is Guernsey

By Alex Hanna

NEWS that Guernsey is short of kittens has sent the world crazy.

An island appeal earlier in the year asking people to get their pets spayed and neutered to cut down the number of stray cats led to a shortage of kittens and sudden worldwide attention including national media coverage. As a result, 21 young cats arrived in the island last week to be found new homes.

‘The story was picked up in all four corners of the globe, so we have had calls from large and small cat agencies and even from America and Russia asking if we could help them, ‘ said Animal Shelter director Jayne Le Cras.

‘They wanted to know how Guernsey had been so successful in asking islanders to be responsible pet owners and whether we could help them. They thought it was unbelievable that we don ‘t have many young cats. ‘

Arrangements were made with the Worthing and District Animal Rescue Service and the cats were brought over by Condor.

‘It was just as if Christmas had arrived when the van arrived at the shelter, ‘ said animal care assistant Jenny Bradshaw.

‘We haven ‘t had many kittens here for a while and we were all crowding around the van, as if there were pop stars on board. ‘

Some of the kittens were seasick after the crossing and others a bit stressed because of the journey, but they have all now settled down. Microchips were put in their neck by the shelter for future security and they have been checked by Route Isabelle Veterinary Practice.

‘They are all shapes, sizes and colours, including a mother with her four babies, and their personalities are starting to come out now, ‘ said animal care assistant Gwen James.

‘Some have already been chosen and I have a feeling they are going to go pretty quickly. ‘

The delivery could be just the start.

‘Because it has been so successful, we have had a word with Condor and it has agreed to help us and bring other cats over for free, ‘ said Mrs Le Cras.

‘All the cats are delightful and healthy and we are so keen because it fills the need here and also provides the cats with a future, which could otherwise be terribly bleak. ‘

She said that young cats might be brought to Guernsey from Ireland, where the situation has got badly out of hand, if there is still the demand. People there do not believe in spaying or neutering their cats and there are 1m. feral cats in Dublin alone. Kittens are often found drowned in rivers or on bonfires.

‘I think the situation is down to the cat clubs and vets here so successfully pushing the message out over the last 20 years, telling people not to have unwanted cats, ‘ said Mrs Le Cras.

‘It is still important for islanders to consider neutering - look at the favours we are doing for these other unwanted cats. ‘

Ten years ago, 800 or more kittens a year were coming to the shelter to be re-homed. This year there will be about 230, with people waiting for months to eventually get one.

Mrs Le Cras said it was unlikely that they would ever take kittens from America or Russia because of quarantine laws and the effects of a long and stressful journey on a young animal.

* The story of Guernsey ’s lack of kittens is due to be featured in the Daily Mail today. It sent a photographer to the island on Friday.

Article posted on 16th August, 2004 - 12.00am