Javea Grapevine 187 2016 Six | Page 120

Cruz Azul Murcia Helps to Keep Cat Colonies Under Control Elsewhere in Spain Cruz Azul Murcia, in addition to helping pet owners on limited incomes, is now active in helping to reduce the number of feral cats in the Murcia region. Last Christmas saw the arrival of four young, abandoned cats on the Sucina Golf urbanisation. Residents started feeding them in the hope they would be able to handle them and take them to the vet to be sterilised. Quite quickly two of the cats produced seven kittens between them! Residents realised they would soon be overrun with feral cats if they didn’t work together to find a solution. Sucina Golf resident, Denise Standen - a volunteer at the Cruz Azul Centre in San Javier - sought advice from Vice President, Sue Thomason. The idea of a Trap-Neuter-Return campaign was put to the Sucina Golf residents, who were keen to get things moving. They knew how quickly things could move on. When it comes to reproduction, cats are prolific breeders. One female kitty can produce an average of 12