It’s that time of year again. Mating season. While our Northland de-sexing campaign in is full swing, we wanted to open up some spots for Kapiti and Horrowhenua areas.

Get in quick! Have a mum and kits? Contact us about options for free- low cost de-sexing of mum on condition kits are signed over to a rescue or de-sexed.

Have a cat that needs to be de-sexed? Please fill out our de-sexing form via https://forms.gle/ikHr5hZa8RkX5XvZ8

If you genuinely can not afford the expected Koha please get in touch with us, to talk about options.To express interest in one of the options above.

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Our volunteers have been busy with lots of ongoing projects starting up again and calls for help regarding stray cats

.Recently we had two FIV cats come into our care on the same week. One (named Amohia) who was severely emaciated, with a raging Upper Respiratory infection, fleas, and lots of missing hair. Sadly he was entire and no microchip. No one ever claimed him, so after a few days at the vet, he came back to us and went into our isolation area. He improved a lot, but still has an ongoing Upper Respiratory infection that we are trying to get on top of with treatment.

We also had another gorgeous black boy come into our care, Harley. Sadly entire and also FIV positive. A long time stray from Levin, handed into us by a lovely lady who did her best to find his home. We got him de-sexed, but he fell very ill a few weeks after coming into our care. The vet suspected toxoplasmosis that was affecting his central nervous system. Sadly despite treatment, he only perked up for a while. But quickly went downhill, so we set him free over the rainbow bridge today.

We have several colony projects we are working on, a large one in Otaki, a few in Levin, and one in Paraparaumu. Shortly our volunteers will be hitting the pavements with traps in hand to get cats caught for de-sexing and kittens caught for socialising.

The message is clear, you can stop the overpopulation, FIV, FELV, and Heartbreak all of our rescuers face, by just doing one simple thing. Get your pet De Sexed. If you need assistance with desexing your cat, please reach out to rescues, we are always happy to help or can point you in the right direction.

Pictured is sweet boy Amohia, who is still currently in our care.

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The ripple effects of Covid 19 are far-reaching and in many unimaginable areas. In March 2020, Veterinary offices all over New Zealand closed their doors to non-essential care, sadly De-sexing did not make that list. Especially hard-hit were the rescue organisations, whose work depends on spey and neuter programs to keep the homeless cat populations to a minimum and to allow us to find homes for those animals lucky enough to be ready to find their forever homes. Also impacted were the pet stores and other venues where rescues sometimes hold adoption events. The general public also faced the same problem. Sadly, many people faced with a cat they were unable to spey later dumped the cat. We have taken in an alarming number of friendly and very pregnant cats this year. Cats have turned up in backyards, in skip bins, behind restaurants, at shopping centres, and construction sites.

Luckily after lockdown things improved somewhat, as vet offices were doing spey and neuters for the public and rescues. But the backlog was quite significant. It also took a long time before rescues could fundraise again in public (sausage sizzles, collection day, etc) and yet again we are faced with having to cancel these events, which normally would help fund our ever-increasing vet bills.

What this means to Forgotten Felines and other rescues: Our efforts to control the homeless cat populations in all areas have been set back at least 5-10 years. There are many kittens being born each month to mothers that have to hunt for food, either in fields or skip bins. We are working hard to play catch up, but the work is very slow.

Forgotten Felines gets multiple calls for help each day, we always answer every plea, either with hands-on help or suggestions for where they might find help if we cannot help them or liaise with other rescues to get the help needed. Calls include needing help with injured cats and kittens, litters of kittens being born in parking lots, in rural areas, and construction sites. Our resources are somewhat limited, but we do our best.

In this still challenging time, Forgotten Felines needs your help now, more than ever before. We have been very fortunate in finding good homes for many of our tame mother cats, kittens, and adults we have taken in this year. But some still need homes.

But the greatest need for Forgotten Felines is more fosters for mom cats and kittens, as well your generous donations. Medical bills, even for routine speys and neuters, are ever-increasing. So many of the cats that have come into our care need more than the usual de-sexing, because there are so many that need our help, our finances are being challenged each day.

The volunteers of Forgotten Felines will continue doing the work to which each of our members is dedicated. Because of your donation, we will be able to help many more cats and kittens.

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We wanted to update you on the mumcat and kitten that came to our rescue recently with gin trap injuries. They are both doing well.

The kitten (Tui) has recovered amazingly well and has joined her mum and siblings in foster care.

Mumcat (Dee) is doing much better, sadly she did lose two of her toes as result of the gin trap injuries, but the vet is optimistic that the rest of her foot and leg will heal fine.

Other good news is that the caretaker of this colony was able to capture two of the remaining kittens and they are now with us in foster care (Luckily with all legs and toes intact and appear to be healthy).

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The rescue world can be a bit wild and challenging at times and our rescuers have been busy this week.

During the Lockdown we have been supporting a caretaker in the Levin region. She is maintaining a colony of cats in a residential area. She made us aware of a mom and 5 kittens, possibly abandoned that joined the colony.

Even when Levin is not our core region, during the Lockdown many rescues were not able to operate and so we worked to support this caretaker during these times. For this reason we made plans to help this cat colony and get traps to the location.

While preparing a plan for this family, we were alerted that the momcat and one kitten were limping badly. They were both caught and picked up by Forgotten Felines. Upon accessing them, we knew the wounds were badly infected and we had never seen injuries so severe before. We quickly called the team at Vets at Riverbank and got them in to be seen the same day. A huge Thank you to the team Vets on Riverbank for their help with treating these cats on such short notice.

The vet told us these injuries were consistent with being caught in a gin trap (leg hold trap). The use of these kind of traps are illegal within 150m of a dwelling without the permission of the occupier, or in any area where there is a probable risk of catching a pet animal.

The kitten had shattered her leg completely in multiple places and it was badly infected. While Xrays have shown momcat has no broken bones, the infection is quite progressed and she has lost blood flow to now two of her toes. Sadly the kittens leg could not be saved and had to be amputated, She has recovered very well and is a very sweet little kitten. The Momcat is back at the vets and we are hoping her leg can be saved.

We will keep you updated on the progress of these cats.

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Fostering Terms & Conditions

1.Forgotten Felines can supply any equipment you may need for the foster period, including carrier, litter box and bowls, if required. You will need to return this equipment when it is no longer required for fostering

2. Forgotten Felines can supply kitten/cat food and litter for the duration of the foster period. Supplies can be collected from your local area coordinator.

3. Forgotten Felines will supply any necessary flea and worm treatments. We will let you know the treatment schedule for your foster(s).

4.You occasionally will be required to transport your foster cat/kitten to our vet for vaccinations, health checks, de-sexing or treatment for illness/injury. Our vet is located in Otaki

5. Forgotten Felines and our partner vets will be responsible for all medical decisions for your foster cat/kitten.

6. Forgotten Felines will provide any required vet treatment during the foster period. You must notify the foster coordinator in your area as soon as possible when the cat/kitten becomes unwell. We will arrange for the foster coordinator to visit your cat/kitten as soon as possible. If required, we will arrange for the cat/kitten to visit our vet. If you decide to use an alternative vet without prior arrangement with your area coordinator, you may not be reimbursed.

7. Your foster must not have access to the outdoors and be kept indoors at all times.

8.If your own cats are not up to date with vaccinations, please keep them separated from any foster cats/kittens that are not fully vaccinated. cats/kittens are considered fully vaccinated 14 days after final booster.

9. Your foster cat/kitten may not be relocated or placed with any other individuals or volunteers without the permission of a Forgotten Felines coordinator or trustee. If you are going away and have arranged a pet feeder/sitter, please notify your area coordinator and provide contact details.

10. If you choose to mix your foster cats/kittens with your own pets, this is at your own risk (including associated costs) Please note that while Forgotten Felines takes the utmost care with intake and vaccination protocols, there is always a risk that your foster cats/kittens could transmit an illness/infection to another animal they come into contact with. This risk is increased if your pets are not up to date with vaccinations.

11. If, at any time, you decide you can no longer foster, your coordinator will arrange for the kittens in your care to be fostered elsewhere. There is no long-term commitment. All we ask for, is as much advance notice as possible so we can begin looking for an alternate foster.

12. You agree to provide a safe location within your home where the foster can initially be separated from your other animals. 

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Our current project we are working on is a group of cats living behind a shopping center in paraparaumu. Many of them are just kittens or have had a home at one time. We have a few of these cats already in foster care and will be preparing them for adoption, by getting them socialised and vet care.

We need your help in order to provide care for these cats.

Please visit our givealittle to contribute to their care

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The Forgotten Felines Foundation will also set up and operate a small Sanctuary for Cats to assist with the number of cats that would otherwise be considered un-adoptable. For example, Cats that cannot find a home because of age, temperament or health conditions and cannot return to their original location.

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