Aberystwyth Cats Protection has launched an online Christmas market to raise vital funds and is offering neutering vouchers for feral and stray cats.

Ann FitzGerald of Aberystwyth Cats Protection said it is “vital to get these cats neutered as one cat can turn into 30 in a very short time”.

The vouchers issued by Cats Protection will allow feral and stray cats to be neutered for free. If the owner or carer of a cat is on benefits, then it is possible to get a cat neutered for £5.

Ann said: “Although Aberystwyth Cats Protection haven’t been seen around town much in the months since March they are still issuing neutering vouchers for feral and stray cats.

“It is vital to get these cats neutered as one cat can turn into 30 in a very short time. Recently six two-week old kittens came into care, they were all female and were reared by a fosterer until they were homed, kittens can get pregnant at about four months old and if these had not been neutered they could have produced many more.

“It is also possible to get a cat neutered for £5 if the carer is on a benefit of any kind, this is a scheme set up between Cats Protection and the RSPCA.”

The charity has also launched an online Christmas market, on Facebook, to raise vital funds: “Aberystwyth Cats Protection has been unable to do its usual fundraising and has set up a Facebook page for online purchase of the goods usually sold on its stall outside Barclays bank for Christmas gifts.

“Without being able to fundraise due to the pandemic things are getting quite difficult for them as it is with many charities especially as food and litter bills along with vets treatment to be paid for are still the same as before and there are a lot of cats waiting to come into care to be rehomed.

“If anyone has a spare room where they could keep a cat and would like to become a fosterer they should get in touch, all food and litter is provided together with toys, and so on, for the cat to play with.

“It is so rewarding to see these lovely animals going to a loving home to spend the rest of their lives in comfort instead of being turned out to fend for themselves.”

For more information, contact Ann FitzGerald at Aberystwyth Cats Protection on 01970 822120.