WENDY Hart, a dedicated cat rescuer, seeks urgent help to feed and care for 169 feral cats at the UKZN Howard College campus as funding dwindles

The retired admissions officer at the university’s faculty of law, said over the past few years, she had been struggling to feed the cats and pay their vet bills.

She said the initiative started as part of the UKZN Howard College Feral Cat Management Project in 2002.

Hart, 78, of Yellowwood Park, said she was unable had been able to buy the cat food using money from her own pocket, staff donations and through other support.

"But with the tough economic times it has become difficult," she said.

There are currently 18 feeding stations across the campus.

“I am at a point at where I don’t know what to do. These cats rely on me. How do I turn my back on them? The initiative stemmed from feral cats, which were breeding all around the area and would go into the campus, and not leave. You would also find dead kittens lying everywhere.

“As an animal lover and rescuer, I approached the university with the idea that I would catch, sterilise and take care of them. There was also a post-graduate Master’s student, who did her research on the benefits of cats. It was found that with the cats on the campus, the university no longer had any rats or snakes. If this project is not maintained, the problem will start all over again,” she said.

Hart said she previously received about R4 000 in staff donations.

“But now this has dropped to about R1 000 as many of the old staff members who contributed have retired or left. I also used my salary. In addition, I have a few sponsors, including former students of the university, as well as others who are doing their best to help me. But I am still not receiving enough as it costs me about R12 000 for food and vet bills per month.

“I retired in 2007 and am now a pensioner. It has come to a point where I have to use my own money, which is not much. I even had my electricity cut because I chose to buy food for the cats. I also use my own car and petrol. But my car brakes have now failed and I can’t afford to fix it.

"I used to go to campus every day, but now it is every second day. I use public transportation, just to make sure they are fed. It takes me over six hours to get around the campus, making sure they are fed, to do a headcount, and check on their health.

“People may say I should stop, but 169 lives are in my hands. I could never turn away. The love I receive from them cannot be described. As soon as I enter the premises, they come running to me. I hope someone can assist me in any way possible,” she said.

Tashya Giyapersad, a law graduate from the university, said: “I have been involved for about eight years purely on the basis that Wendy desperately needs help. For more than two decades, Wendy has cared for and fed the feral colony. While she had supporters in the past, these have dwindled to less than 20%. The cats rely on her and have no other source of food.

“While we intend on reaching out to the university for assistance, in the interim, we need urgent assistance for food and medical care. If you can chip in, please do as any and every cent counts,” she said.

If you would like to assist with monetary or food donations, contact Hart on 082 218 5960 or Giyapersad on 083 266 4330.

You can also drop-off cat food at Giyapersad’s office at 119-121 Aldrovande Palace, 6 Jubilee Grove, Umhlanga Ridge.

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Durban cat rescuer appeals for urgent help to feed 169 feral cats