Desperate meows are finally heard

At least 81 stray cats have been rescued from the streets since the ‘Kettuverndin’ cat rescue was formed earlier this year.

Sisters Jóhanna Maria and Erla Helena Magnusardóttir had been watching on in frustration for years, helpless to do anything as the problem with stray cats continued to escalate.

In the end, they took matters into their own hands, teamed up with a few friends and set up an interest organisation committed to solving this problem.

“Sadly, stray cats tend to be treated with much less compassion and respect than stray dogs,” says Jóhanna Maria.

“Stray dogs are much more likely to be rescued and adopted. Some people believe that stray cats should be put down because they are a threat to birdlife. That’s obviously not very nice to hear.”

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The general procedure is that after receiving a report about a stray cat, the Kettuverndin team goes out and captures the cat using a box trap.

The cat is then taken to a vet for treatment and neutering after which it is microchipped and registered for possible adoption.

“We are all responsible for the problem of stray cats. When we abandon or neglect our cats, we are contributing to the overpopulation of these animals,” she says.

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Caption: 

About half of the 81 homeless cats rescued so far have been adopted. The rest have either been neutered and released or are currently in a shelter. Archive photo

“All stray cats can, in principle, be tamed. It’s only a matter of resources and a shared sense of responsibility.”

On its website, Kettuverndin writes that the organisation was founded because the local councils are not taking due responsibility for the growing problem of stray cats.

Donations welcome

Improving the lives of stray cats involves spaying and neutering services, food, shelter and medical care.

This work is not cheap, which is why Kettuverndin welcomes donations to account number 9181-0005948324 in Betri Banki.

For further details, visit the Kettuverndin Facebook page.

You can report stray cats to Kettuverndin by phone on 412000 or by email at info@kettuverndin.fo. As always, it’s not a problem if you speak English.

Read the Faroese version of this article here.

English version by prosa.fo.

More Faroese News in English.