Paw help

Kitten “Simbaline” was saved from death by cold

The disheveled kitten

(Bild: Pfotenhilfe)

They named her "Simbaline": An orphaned kitten was found last week in sub-zero temperatures and brought to the Pfotenhilfe animal shelter in Lochen. 

In order to stem the next flood of kittens, Pfotenhilfe is now launching an appeal for neutering. The next two or three weeks will decide. All cats and tomcats that have not been neutered by then will most likely have offspring from the end of March.

For this reason, the animal welfare center rents out live traps with which shy cats can be taken directly to the vet. They are also chipped and registered there. The province of Upper Austria has been subsidizing the costs for many years, the rest is covered by Pfotenhilfe - including treatment costs for sick cats.

Preventing animal suffering
"We appeal to people to take responsibility, even if it's not their animals", says Pfotenhilfe boss Johanna Stadler. "Every single kitten prevented in this way helps to curb further reproduction and the associated animal suffering. Severe cat flu, which can lead to blindness and even death, is not uncommon. Many die undetected from epidemics - helplessly, slowly and agonizingly. Or they are run over.

We have had a Federal Animal Welfare Act since January 1, 2005. So for 20 years now, cats have also had to be neutered. But year after year, we continue to witness the drama of stray cats and their babies because people still don't comply with the law."