Rachel's KittyCat Rescue

Rachel's KittyCat Rescue is a Registered Charity CC54963. Our passion is the care, desexing, management, socialisation and adoption of stray, wild and abandoned cats across the Hutt Valley and Wairarapa region.

Within the past 4 years we have rescued and taken in over 500 cats.

We work with locals in the community to help strays, wildborn and orphaned feral kittens and cats, loan traps to help people catch and desex feral cats on their property, socialise feral kittens and cats and find them loving homes and provide information and support for those looking for a lost cat. We also help to desex owned Mum Cats for free in turn for surrender of the kittens to desex, vaccine and microchip before finding good homes.

Studies have conclusively shown that for small populations of feral cats, TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) is the most effective way to reduce the population. By desexing, FIV testing and vaccinating wild cats we can keep the population stable, healthy and low while preventing an explosion of rats, mice and rabbits.

Our costs are:

To TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) FIV test, Microchip, Eartip and Vaccinate: $320-500

To desex, microchip, vaccine, flea and worm one kitten: $250-400

To treat one sick cat, FIV test, desex, microchip, vaccine, flea and worm: $400+

Common questions:

- How do you know you're not abducting someone's pet?

Aside from obvious clues like microchips and collars, all animals are temperament tested to determine if they are friendly to humans and their body condition evaluated to see if they are receiving medical care and grooming. If so, we advertise for lost pets and contact the local vets and SPCA. If nobody comes forwards, we desex, vaccinate, microchip and eventually rehome.

- Why not just humanely euthanize all of the adults?

Aside from the distress and morals of euthanizing healthy cats, it's an ineffective way to control the stray cat population. Studies have shown that for populations under 30, TNR with kitten removal is the best way to reduce the unowned cat population. This is because due to the rural nature of the Wairarapa, there is ample food available in the form of rabbits and rodents for wild cats. This means that even if all of the cats in one area are euthanized others will move in shortly, and the problem will begin again. Through TNR a stable, small and disease free population is maintained.

- I don't have any money to spare, how can I help?

Firstly please share the cause with family and friends through word of mouth and social media. Secondly, contact us on our Facebook page www.facebook.com/KittyCatRescue or by email at KittyCatRehoming@gmail.com to see if you can help us through fostering, donation collection, transport or fundraising events.

-I'd like to adopt a kitten or cat from you.

Send us an email at KittyCatRehoming@gmail.com, and check out our facebook page for cats and kittens currently looking for a home.