B.C. SPCA takes in 29 cats and kittens from overrun Powell River property

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Animal care centres on Vancouver Island and the Sunshine Coast are looking after 29 cats and kittens that were surrendered from a property in Powell River.

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The B.C. SPCA says people in the area became concerned about the number of cats on the property, and the owners “did the right thing” and asked them for help.

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Twenty-one cats and eight kittens were taken in, 15 of which stayed in Powell River, while the rest were taken to animal centres in Comox, Parksville and Nanaimo.

One of the kittens, Pinky, needed urgent veterinary care.

“This was a team effort that required support from people from multiple communities,” said Tara Daniels, manager of the B.C. SPCA’s Powell River centre.

“Just to make space for the intake of these cats at the Powell River location, 16 cats and kittens had to be transferred to the Sunshine Coast animal centre.”

Getting them where they needed to go also had its challenges, said Daniels.

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A ferry cancellation meant the cats had to be taken back to the Powell River location while an SPCA truck stayed in line for an unreserved spot; the cats were eventually hustled back to the truck and boarded a later ferry.

“Many of the cats appeared underweight and had obvious eye issues,” said Daniels. Some of the cats are being treated for upper respiratory infections, eye and dental problems and congenital conditions. Two were pregnant and have given birth to four more kittens while in B.C. SPCA care.

Daniels said the cats and kittens aren’t available for adoption yet, but will be once they are healthy and of age at adopt.spca.bc.ca.

Anyone who can contribute to the cats and other animals in need can visit spca.bc.ca/emergencyalert.

jruttle@postmedia.com

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