Heartbreak for Laois rescue as newborn kittens die
The newborn Easter kittens were sadly too weak to survive. Photo: LSPCA
ANIMAL rescue volunteers in Laois are heartbroken following the deaths of newborn kittens, despite painstaking round-the-clock care over the Easter weekend.
One LSPCA worker spent days syringe-feeding the tiny litter, as she battled to keep them alive against the odds.
Unfortunately, they were too weak to survive and three passed away over the bank holiday weekend. Two others were stillborn after their mother Peach was taken in by the rescue team.
The LSPCA said: ‘Sadly, they were just too weak to live and were born with a lot of deformities, most likely due to inbreeding or some sort of infection. Well done to Ciara, who was on syringe-feeding duties over the Easter weekend and tried to keep them all going.’
A kind young woman living in Portlaoise contacted the LSPCA about the stray cat, who was heavily pregnant when she was taken in by volunteers just before the Easter break.
Unfortunately, none of Peach’s five kittens survived. She was not producing any milk, so the three born alive had to be fed by syringe. It was a sad outcome for the dedicated volunteers, although it was for the best given the kittens’ deformities.
Peach has had a veterinary check-up and is doing well in foster care. She will be spayed to ensure that she will never have another litter.
LSPCA volunteers pointed out that Peach is yet another example of how important it is to neuter animals, saying: ‘This all could have been avoided for poor Peach.’
The rescue is running a free cat neutering scheme, which has been extended until the end of May. Anyone concerned about stray cats or kittens in the county, or who wants to avail of the free scheme, can contact the LSPCA’s cat coordinator at 085 2397059. A dog coordinator is available at 086 4169559.
The Portlaoise-based registered charity rescues and protects abandoned or injured animals throughout the county. Donations are always welcome on idonate.ie/cause/lspca or by supporting the charity shop in Hind’s Square, Portlaoise.
