Animal welfare charities are working together to help support a huge feral cat colony in Middlewich. 

There could be up to 250 cats in the colony, which is mainly centred around the Brooks Lane and Midpoint industrial estates, although some of the felines are believed to come in from nearby residential areas and farmland. 

Volunteers from the Northwich-based Willowsway Cat Rescue have been working in the area since October and have already caught, neutered, microchipped and released 99 cats. These cats are used to living independently so would not be suited for a domestic life.

It has so far cost around £8,000 to trap, transport and neuter the cats, and there are believed to be between 100 and 150 felines still left to do.

The work is being supported by two RSPCA branches - Crewe, Nantwich & District and Altrincham - who have supplied traps and contributed towards the veterinary bills.

Trap Neuter Release (TNR) programmes are seen as the most effective way of managing feral cat populations by preventing breeding, reducing disease spread and improving the quality of life for the cats.

Liz Peach, Founder and Trustee at Willowsway Cat Rescue, said: "The cats in this colony are either unowned or may have strayed. Because they have not been neutered they have bred repeatedly to the extent where we've ended up with a situation like the one we're seeing.

"It's quite a difficult situation to manage but two of our volunteers, Julie Berry and Tracy Eastham, are working tirelessly to identify cats which need trapping so they can be brought in and neutered.

"The vast majority that have been trapped have been returned to the colony, but we've also rehomed a small number of female cats and very young kittens under eight weeks old who have been successfully socialised. As we don't have a rehoming centre we rely on our small network of around 20 foster homes to help us do this."

Liz highlighted the importance of team working in carrying out the work to help the cats.

She said: "Poole's Towing and Recovery, as well as the local Starbucks, have been a great help by storing equipment and cat food for us and a number of other businesses on the industrial estates are also monitoring traps. Patrick Murphy at Northwich Vets has also neutered over 80 cats from the colony, often fitting them in at short notice, and we're extremely grateful to him and the RSPCA branches who have come on board.

"Supporting this large colony alongside our day-to-day rescue and rehoming work is a huge undertaking for our small team of volunteers. It's something we all feel very passionately about and we're fully committed to helping improve the welfare of as many of these cats as we can, but we urgently need more foster carers and people to donate money, cat food and litter."

Julie Brunt, Chair of the RSPCA's Crewe, Nantwich & District Branch, said: "This is a huge colony for one organisation to try and manage on their own which is why our branch, together with Altrincham, is helping Willowsway as we can achieve much more for animal welfare when we work together.

"Despite their wild nature, feral cats still need a level of care. Colonies like this one can grow quickly and the best option is to humanely trap and neuter all the animals within as short a time frame as possible. This not only helps to manage the size of the colony but also improves the cats' health and wellbeing."

Animal welfare groups and veterinary organisations have long highlighted the importance of neutering as part of responsible pet ownership. Cats are prolific breeders and females can get pregnant from as early as four months old, giving birth to up to 18 kittens a year.

For the cat population to be controlled, the timing of neutering as well as the overall number of cats neutered is critical. Sadly, many female cats are unneutered by the time they reach a year old, meaning they could have already had at least one litter.

Neutering also means cats lead healthier, happier lives. This is because neutered cats, especially males, are less likely to roam far from home or get into fights with other felines, both of which can increase their risk of injury or picking up illnesses.

With the rising cost of living, cat owners are encouraged to plan ahead, make sure they are registered with a vet, explore whether local charities can offer neutering vouchers in their area and take out pet insurance to help cover unexpected costs.

To help Willowsway's ongoing work with the Middlewich feral cat colony, or to register an interest in cat fostering, please visit their website. The RSPCA's Crewe, Nantwich & District Branch and Altrincham Branch are also in need of fosterers. Please contact them directly to get involved.  

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