Cats need to be neutered to prevent the borough's furry feline population spiralling out of control, the RSPCA claimed this week.
Last year RSPCA staff at its animal centre in Packhorse Lane, Ridge, managed to find homes for 937 unwanted cats but says the public must act now to stop overpopulation reaching catastrophic proportions.
In 1999 a Golders Green woman had 29 cats removed from her one-bedroom flat after failing to get her original two cats neutered. Theoretically, one unneutered female cat could be responsible for up to 50 million offspring in an average ten-year lifetime.
A spokeswoman for the RSPCA added: "It's cases like this which highlight the importance of neutering cats. A person can start out with a couple of cats but that can become 30 if they are not sterilised."
Roy Leason, RSPCA London's general manager, called on owners to have their cats neutered early.
"Kittens born this year are coming into season now and unless owners get them neutered we're going to have severe problems in the New Year," he said.
"People wrongly assume it's healthy for a cat to have a first litter but this is not the case.
"Not only will neutering ease the growing population but neutering male cats prevents them from wandering off and fighting."
For more information on neutering call the RSPCA helpline on 0870 5555 999.
October 24, 2001 11:34
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