The number of cats and kittens being removed from a rural Houston property keeps climbing along with the cost of their continued care, reports the BC SPCA.
“As it currently stands, we are expecting the total costs of this intake to reach at least $275,000,” reported BC SPCA communications manager Kaila Butler April 10.
The latest removal count stands at 263 and a number of kittens have been born since the BC SPCA began removing cats from Bruce Richmond’s property in early March.
“There are still some remaining cats on the property and we are working with Bruce to determine next steps for them,” Butler said.
Richmond, who phoned the BC SPCA in early March asking for help, estimated the cat population then at approximately 280.
The BC SPCA began its intervention by providing Richmond with food and cat litter until it could make arrangements to move the cats out. It has now set up a care centre in a Prince George warehouse.
Workers have removed the cats in two large quantities to their new warehouse residence.
The projected cost takes in the transport of cats and kittens, veterinary care, spaying and neutering surgeries, staff costs and buying supplies not already donated by members of the community.
Hundreds of litter trays were needed as were wire cages to keep cats separated.
BC SPCA senior director of community animal centres described a full on effort involving BC SPCA employees.
“Staff have travelled from as far as Vancouver Island to Prince George to prepare for and support the intake of these cats. It has been a huge operation,” she said.
“It was important to have the cats and kittens assessed as quickly as possible so those needing medical care could begin their treatments promptly and the healthy cats could be transferred to centres to begin their adoption journeys . It’s definitely an ‘all hands-on deck’ type of situation, we’ve had teams working around the clock on this.”
The BC SPCA has begun offering some of the cats for adoption with more information available through adopt.spca.bc.ca.