7th Heaven
Animal Rescue Trust
E-mail us to : animalrescuetrust@hotmail.com
Phone: 02894 432229
Address: PO Box 198, Newtownabbey, Northern Ireland, BT36 9BP
Project Wildcat
Project Wildcat: There are pockets of feral communities and community cats being fed by people throughout Northern Ireland. This unique scheme provides pet food support to help them feed them especially during crisis. Those caring for them will need to provide pet food to them ongoing, and we will help support by sharing any supplies we have available. We provide shelters to keep them warm, safe and protected, provided there is somewhere safe and someone to care for them where they are. To discontinue care and feeding to which these cats have grown accustomed to would put them in grave danger. NB. We do not trap, neuter & return nor remove the cat from where they are
NB. The supplies may be reduced at times due to the increase in requests and will be dependent on funds available to cover. We cannot guarantee any particular type of pet food, we share out pet food donated to us for use in both the Pet Food Bank & Project Wildcat schemes. We are not able to provide them with all the pet food they need. It likely to be mainly dry food. There are only a few volunteers delivering these supplies, so please bear with us!
You can contact us direct for support by e-mail: animalrescuetrust@hotmail.com or by phone: 02894432229. Our preference for initial contact is by e-mail please as we can manage this better. Please let us know: - Name, address & phone number (e-mail too if possible) - the basic reason why support is needed, to help us assess the type /length of support needed, ensure it meets our criteria and to ensure volunteers are aware of any health condition to safeguard them too. - a few details of the animal(s) We will contact you generally in the evening to discuss & make any arrangements.
About Project Wildcat
Although 7th Heaven was founded to deal solely with domestic animals, we are increasingly being asked to help out with feral cats. We have therefore started Project Wildcat to help address the situation.
Under Project Wildcat, we will provide a supply of pet food and waterproof kennels, free of charge, to anyone that has feral cats on their land and is happy to let them stay. We will also help cover the cost of neutering, but unfortunately as we are a small animal charity, do not have the resource to trap them & take them to the vet ourselves.
If a female has already given birth, and the kittens are still feeding from her, you must wait until the kittens stop feeding before trapping the mother for spaying, this will probably be when the kittens are about 6 weeks old. If the mother is spayed before the kittens stop feeding from her, they will die.
If the kennel is no longer required or being used, can you please return this to us, so that it can be used for other feral cats who are in need.
October is 7th Heaven's Feral Cat Month
7th Heaven Animal Rescue Trust continue to highlight the plight of feral and community cats through our annual Feral Cat Month in October. Feral cats are frequently ignored, considered pests and treated very cruelly by some here. During October, some of the cat food donated to us, will be used to feed feral and community cats throughout Northern Ireland. Any donations received specifically for them will be used to buy them food and shelter if needed.
We normally feed over 100 cats each year through this event but this has significantly increased with the covid crisis. Although it has been crazy times for us since the Covid crisis, we still have not stopped helping the wee ferals and community cats. Our ongoing Project Wildcat Scheme provides waterproof shelters where possible, pet food and help with the cost of neutering. Since the end of April 20, we have provided food to feed almost 1000 cats.
If anyone is currently caring for ferals in Northern Ireland and needs this help, please contact us.
We will continue to be advocates to highlight their plight.
If anyone would like to donate food to this good cause, we have a donation point at Sainsbury's Forestside, Belfast store.
We will continue to highlight their plight.
How You Can Help
Most people view feral cats as a nuisance and want them removed from their land or garden. Unfortunately as it is very difficult to find somewhere to re-locate them, we are always looking for people willing to take neutered ferals. If you are happy to care for a few feral cats please let is know. You would need to have a reasonable area of land away from dangerous roads and a shed or outbuilding in which they can sleep and find shelter. This would need to be lockable as the cats would have to be closed in for a few weeks initially or they would simply run off. You must also be prepared to feed them daily.
Remember, feral cats’ lives are precious too.
Project Wildcat in Practice
Project Wildcat Scheme & 7th Heaven's Feral Cat month update Oct 2020
We thought you would like to see how we have been helping others through this scheme and during the October event. Times have been very difficult for us all this year, but we have continued to provide this service to help those in need.
Thank you to everyone who has supported us during this time, whether it was through donation pet food, shelters, bedding, funds, trapping /neutering - we appreciate all that you have done to help these wee ferals or community cats.
Project Wildcat YouTube Video
Gallery of some of the Feral and Community cats we have helped
Stormont Cats
Some of you might have heard about the 2 ladies being banned from feeding feral cats in Stormont grounds after 30 years of doing so. We know that the Belfast Telegraph and other have been championing for permission to allow them to return to feed.
7th Heaven also send requests direct to those involved offering support of shelter and ongoing supplies of pet food through our Project Wildcat scheme.We also highlighted the important where possible to leave them in the habitate that they are accustomed to, particularly if they have lived there for many years. Moving them at this late stage in their lives is likely to cause them trauma and it would not be likely that they would settle elsewhere.
We bare delighted to report that we have received good news about this situation from the Stormont Estate Manager, Estate Management Unit:
'Firstly, can I assure you that there is no intention of moving the cats from their current habitat. In relation to your offer to provide food/shelters for the cats you might wish to contact Edna and Carol directly, however, I understand the cats have been provided with appropriate shelter within the grounds of Stormont House. I would also like to reassure you that there is no intention to interrupt the feeding of the cats. Further, while the security of the Estate is paramount, there has never been consideration of any of the parties as posing a ‘security risk’; rather the issue is one of legitimate access to areas of the Stormont Estate. I have recently met with both Edna and Carol and trust that the matter has been resolved to the satisfaction of all concerned.'
We are delighted that everyone came together to resolve this matter and show compassion to animals in need in Northern Ireland. In particular it helped highlight the plight of feral cats here and how everyone involved kept the best interests of these cats in mind. There is more than enough animal abuse here.
While we don't have direct contact with Edna or Carol, if any one does, could you please pass our details to them & ask if they would want to contact us for ongoing support of pet food or shelter.
Kindly Belfast pensioner who feeds Stormont cats banned as security risk