Press Release 1  

Thursday 16 November 2006

Out of work mousers looking for rural employment opportunities

Milton Keynes & District Cats Protection is currently offering the perfect solution to individuals and businesses in need of an environmentally-friendly pest control service. The charity has a surplus of working, feral cats on its books, just ready to pounce on the right vacancy!

Colonies of feral cats often find themselves homeless, usually as a result of inner city and rural development. But their useful predatory skills, coupled with Cats Protection’s rehoming services, can secure them a better future, according to Karen Robinson, Homing & Welfare Officer.

“Most feral cats prefer the freedom of a working life to a comfortable lap in suburbia. We have had some very positive feedback in terms of reduced rodent problems from the many farms, stables and warehouses that have adopted a feral or two from us,” explained Karen.

A pair of feral cats can provide a very efficient and environmentally-friendly alternative to chemical pest control. Garden centres, golf clubs, smallholdings, farms, stables, shops; in fact, anywhere where there is room to roam and rodents to catch, will provide working cats with a suitable environment in which to live and work. 

Owners must be prepared to provide their feline employees with food, water, some shelter and veterinary care when needed. Contrary to popular belief, regular food and neutering will not affect a feral cat’s desire to catch prey.

Cats Protection estimates the current UK feral cat population to be around 1.2 million. Left unchecked, numbers can increase rapidly and the animals can suffer through a lack of proper care. Given the charity’s commitment to neutering as the practical way to control the UK cat population, Cats Protection Branches and Cat Adoption Centres have been active in responsible feral cat management programmes for many years, developing considerable expertise in this area. 

Whilst feral kittens aged up to 12 weeks can be successfully ‘socialised’ and re-homed in a normal home environment, this is not usually possible with adult ferals. Once they have been neutered, volunteers return them to their colony where a sustainable one exists, or, find them a new home in a suitable environment where they can thrive and work hard doing what they like best!

Anyone interested in providing a home for a feral cat should contact Milton Keynes & District Cats Protection on 01296 738558 (local rate) for further information, or visit www.mkcats.org.uk. 

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Notes to editors:
    1. Please contact Sarah Smith, Publicity Officer, for more information or to arrange an interview via email publicity@mkcats.org.uk. 
    2. Cats Protection’s Milton Keynes & District branch is part of the charity’s nationwide network of 29 Adoption Centres and 261 voluntary-run Branches that together find loving homes for around 60,000 cats every year. The Milton Keynes & District branch currently has 5 cats and kittens in its care awaiting a second chance in life. For more information on giving a rescue cat a home, please contact the branch on 01296 738558 (local rate).
    3. More information about the work of the Milton Keynes & District branch can be found at www.mkcats.org.uk.