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With a heart for mercy cats: Local initiative fights against animal suffering
The “Gnadenkatzen” initiative in the Ried district takes care of old and sick cats. Committed women support castration education and food donations. Support this important work!
With a heart for mercy cats: Local initiative fights against animal suffering
In the Ried district, four committed women work tirelessly to save cats in need. Pensioners Margarete Kollnberger, her daughter Sabine, Beatrix Wöhrer and Maria Schönauer founded the “Gnadenkatzen” initiative to offer old and often sick cats, who can often no longer be rehomed, a loving home.
“Originally we only looked after elderly cats,” reports Beatrix Wöhrer, one of the founders. But they soon realized that the need went far beyond caring for old animals. One of the biggest challenges is the uncontrolled reproduction of cats, which in many cases leads to the emergence of strays. Wöhrer explains: "A cat can have offspring up to three times a year, which often leads to the kittens being neglected or even thrown away. This is a dramatic situation."
Castration as the key to the solution
In view of this precarious situation, the initiative is trying to draw greater attention to the importance of castration offers from animal protection organizations. "If we can encourage more cat owners to castrate their animals, we can prevent a lot of animal suffering. That is important to us," says Wöhrer. The associated costs of caring for old cats are high for pensioners, and the current price increase brings additional financial burdens. The initiative is financed from its own resources, which is often a challenge.
“The price of castrations has also skyrocketed – a burden that is difficult to bear without support,” she adds. In this context, the seniors expressly thank Franziska Greil from the Tatzenfreunde Innviertel for their valuable cooperation.
One way to support the valuable work of the “Mercy Cats” is to donate food. These can be handed in at various shops such as Spar in St. Martin and Pramet as well as at the Unimarkt in Altheim. Anyone who would also like to make a one-off monetary donation can do so via the Oberbank Ried donation account under the reference “Gnadenkatzen”. “We are grateful for every amount, no matter how small,” emphasizes Wöhrer.