Kittens born in owl box being hand-reared by vet staff
FOUR kittens are being hand-reared by veterinary staff after they were born in an owl box 20ft up in a tree.
The kittens, two weeks old today, were rescued from the tree after they were spotted on an owl-cam and taken to safety.
The 3ft owl box had been seen an owl visit for about two years, but the owners of the property in the Forest kept the camera inside and spotted a feral cat living in the box. Shortly after, she gave birth to kittens.
Just less than a year ago, Sue Vidamour wrapped up Guernsey Animal Aid after more than 25 years, but continues to help in the animal community and came to the rescue.
‘The owners knew that there was a feral cat in the area and two kittens were born during the night and two more the following morning,’ she said.
‘There are also two younger feral cats in the area from last year about six months old, and I’ll be trying to catch those too so they can be neutered and hopefully brought up in a family.’
The tree was one with several trunks, and that, combined with a broken ladder, was how the pregnant cat got up there.
For five days, the kittens were left with their mum to get colostrum from her milk, which is important for helping to protect them against antibodies and disease.
The two male and two female kittens are now being hand-reared by staff at Vets4Pets St Martin’s, who have been bottle-feeding them with kitten milk every two to three hours.
Mrs Vidamour is trying to catch the mother cat, along with the two other feral cats, in order to have them spayed and neutered and humane traps have been set for them.
The two female kittens have already found a new home and are being-hand reared there, with new names Tsunami and Nirvana.
The male kittens will also be rehomed.
During the time of Guernsey Animal Aid, the charity subsidised the neutering of more than 1,000 cats and dogs.
‘It feels like all of my work is coming undone, people don’t neuter and then this happens,’ said Mrs Vidamour.
‘I used to help more but then I closed the charity and I can’t help in the same way anymore, I don’t have the fundraising.
‘Neutering is so important because the large numbers of feral cats can get out of hand so quickly, and they don’t get worm and flea treatment like domestic cats.’
Anyone who wants to donate money to help neuter cats in Guernsey can contact Vets4Pets and contribute to the Guernsey’s Lost Cats account.
