By TOTO TSARNEBA
The concept is simple. Each person who donates or sponsors sterilisation starts a ripple effect of kindness by “spaying it forward”.
Rochelle Fourie, the Grahamstown Feral Cat Project chairperson, said the project’s main aim was ‘TNR’ which stands for trap, neuter or spay, and return of feral cats.
Fourie added that “Spay-It-Forward” aimed to identify families in need. These families can take their cats to the vets for their ‘TNR’, where they first get sprayed or neutered and then returned to their owners.
“We aim to sterilise as many cats as possible within the community, but we cannot do this without the public’s support and funding,” said Fourie. The project wishes to raise enough funds to do regular sterilisations as this will make a massive difference to the cat population.
Spaying and neutering also improve cats’ health and reduce the risk of health problems. Neutering early decreases mammary carcinoma and prevents diseases in the uterus, ovaries and testes.
Fourie said that cats also get diseases like Feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV) and Feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), which cannot be cured so these cats and kittens suffer and die slowly. Then those cats that do make it to adulthood face the burden of having kittens, and the cycle only continues. Therefore, sterilisation is important as this is the only solution to stop the process.
This year, 8 August marks the 20th celebration of International Cat Day, established in 2002 by the International Fund for Animal Welfare.
Fourie said International Cat Day is a day to raise cat awareness and learn ways to help and protect them. “Having cats as pets also leads to positive effects on human health, even aiding in cognitive functionality” she said.
Great support from Hi-Tec
In March this year, Hi-Tec Security kindly assisted the project by transporting cats and placing them in foster care.
“These amazing and kind-hearted armed response officers have even rescued tiny and abandoned kittens, placed them in their warm jackets, and brought them to me to be cared for,” Fourie said.
A special message from Fourie to Hi-Tec
“I would like to thank everyone at Hi-Tech Security for your hearts of gold and for your continued support of our project. We really and truly appreciate everything that you have done for us and that you continue to do for us, our furry fosters and our feral colonies,” she said.
Fourie believes that everyone assisting their project is a superhero as they will be helping a local community member who cannot afford to sterilise their cats, leading to a better life for cats.
Become a Spay it Forward Hero
Help the Grahamstown Feral Cat Project save thousands of lives with every single sterilisation you fund.
By donating, you help prevent innocent cats from being dumped by irresponsible owners or euthanised because there are no homes available for them.
In the first week of August, the Grahamstown Feral Can Project managed 4 spays and 5 neuters, totalling 9 sterilisations.
The Cat is Man’s Best Friend, so spay it forward and maintain a good friendship.
If you wish to “Spay-It-Forward” and make a financial contribution, you can use any one of the below banking details. A request from Rochelle is that you kindly send them an email to let them know about your kind donation.
In addition, Rochelle said all donations made using the W/CAT-TNR reference will only be used for “Spay-it-Foward”.
Banking Details:
1. Makana Vet Clinic
- Bank: FNB
- Account Number: 62886213132
- Account Type: Cheque Account
- Branch Code: 210717
- Reference: W/CAT – TNR
- Proof of payment to Rochelle Fourie (Eastcapemultiservices66@gmail.com)
2. Ikhala Veterinary Clinic
- Bank: FNB
- Account Number: 62737529191
- Account Type: Cheque Account
- Branch Code: 250655
- Reference: W/Cat – TNR
- Proof of payment to Rochelle Fourie (Eastcapemultiservices66@gmail.com)
3. Grahamstown Veterinary Clinic
- Bank: Standard Bank
- Account Number: 282625054
- Account Type: Cheque Account
- Branch Code: 050917
- Reference: W/CAT – TNR
- Please send proof of payment to Rochelle Fourie (Eastcapemultiservices66@gmail.com)
Remember: Sterilisation is the most effective method of population control so let’s keep spaying it forward!
