Hello, my name is Chekov and I am one of the resident cats at The Cat & Rabbit Rescue Centre.
In my article this time, I wanted to share the story of a cat called Canary. She recently arrived at the Centre after being found struggling in a garden, pregnant, with a suspected flea allergy, and with no safe place to call home. Not long after arriving at The Centre Canary gave birth to her one and only kitten. Lil Chunk, as he is affectionately called, is huge! With no siblings to share mum’s attention (or her milk!), he’s grown into one of the chunkiest, happiest little fluffballs we’ve ever seen. Canary is absolutely smitten. She dotes on him all day, snuggling and grooming and making sure her baby is as loved as can be.
But the reason I wanted to share their story is because Canary gave birth just three weeks ago, and now she’s already back on heat while still nursing her kitten. That might sound surprising, but it's something we see a lot here. You see, cats can come back into heat just 1–3 weeks after giving birth. That means female cats can get pregnant again very quickly, even while they are still caring for a litter. It can be exhausting for mum cats, their bodies need time to heal and rest, but without spaying, it becomes an endless cycle and adds to the already overwhelming number of cats needing homes. So, from one feline to all you lovely humans out there — please spay and neuter your pets. It saves lives, prevents suffering, and helps rescue centres like ours care for those of us who truly need it.
Canary and her kitten are safe now, getting the love and care they need. But there are so many more like them. Let's stop the cycle before it starts.
See you next time.
Pet of this Edition - Khaki
This month, we would love to introduce you to a sweet 7-year-old male cat called Khaki. Khaki arrived at The Centre in March after he had been living as a stray. He’s a gentle soul who’s still adjusting to life indoors and finds the hustle and bustle of the centre a little overwhelming. He often prefers to stay snuggled behind his blanket and may give a little hiss if someone gets too close, but he doesn't mean it, and actually enjoys it when people take the time to sit and chat with him. Khaki’s confidence is continuing to grow, and he is now enjoying being stroked and will purr to show his appreciation. Khaki would like to find a quiet home where he has the space to settle in his own time, but we think he would be happy with another cat.
If you think you may be able to offer Khaki a loving home, please give the centre a call on 01243 967111