Normally at this time of year, the group says the kitten season is wrapping up for the year and they are looking to clean up and rest and re-group. However, this year they still have 54 cats and kittens in their care at this time. While that is unusual on its own, they say they have had a couple of unexpected events happen.
This summer, the group says it helped a hoarding situation and spayed/neutered 15 cats with their free spay/neuter program, and yesterday they visited a local farm that is helping 40 cats and kittens.
The owner of the farm starting feeding some cats that showed up at his barn, and as unaltered cats will do, they multiplied. Before he knew it, he was caring for 40 cats and kittens.
Qualicum Cat Rescue says its group and Nanoose Bay CatSpan are stepping in to help him. Most of the cats are beautiful and socialised. They are healthy as he has been feeding them all. They will be spaying/neutering them, deworming, defleaing, vaccinating, and tattooing them.
The cost to Qualicum Cat Rescue to get a kitten or cat ready for adoption averages around $250 per feline. They charge a $100 adoption fee. These 40 cats and kittens could cost the group up to $6,000.
The group says it has already adopted out over 250 cats and kittens in 2013, and they have given out almost 300 free spay/neuter certificates in our community. They say they are going to need some help.
The group says it had a mail-out arriving in Qualicum Beach and parts of Parksville coming out this week and it says it would be grateful for any donations at this time.
The group asks residents to look for their bright green flyer. They are also encouraging monthly donors, which they say helps them plan and budget.
Anyone who would like to help can visit the group at 104-166 West First Avenue in Qualicum Beach or visit their website at www.qualicumcatrescue.com.
They say they still have some free spay/neuter certificates available for the asking. Qualicum Cat Rescue says it is a 100 per cent volunteer organization and every cent donated goes directly to the cats and kittens.
— Submitted by Maria Yerema