A stray mummy cat has safely given birth to a litter of five kittens thanks to Mayhew’s dedicated team.

Mayhew’s Animal Welfare Officers brought in the stray pregnant tabby, named Bellatrix by Mayhew staff, after she was discovered in North West London.

Mayhew’s Cat Welfare Coordinator, Georgina Disney, said: “When she arrived we knew she was pregnant, so we made sure our Vet Team checked her over and that she was in good health. We quickly settled her in to a warm and cosy cabin and tried to make her as comfortable and stress free as possible.”

“It also became very apparent that Bellatrix was a domesticated cat. She was friendly, and enjoyed lots of fuss and cat treats from the team.”

“Six days later, she gave birth to a litter of five kittens in our Cattery. If she hadn’t been brought in to Mayhew, the kittens would have ended up being born outside and would have likely become feral.”

With Halloween fast approaching, the kittens were aptly named after Harry Potter creatures – Crookshanks, Mrs Norris, Buckbeak, Fawkes and Fang.

Mayhew’s Animal Welfare Officer, AJ Ford, said: “This story highlights how important it is to get your pet neutered. We see hundreds of unwanted kittens coming into our Home all year round and it is a growing problem. We encourage pet owners to get their animals neutered and offer low cost and affordable neutering for cats and dogs at our Vet Clinic.”

“We also run a Pick & Snip project, which offers free neutering for cats and kittens for vulnerable owners, who are unable to neuter their cats due to cost, disability, apathy or transport availability. We collect and neuter owned cats within our designated catchment area of the M25.”

“At Mayhew we are dedicated to helping people in crisis situations. We do not judge and we are here to assist and advise on the best course of action for the animal, no matter what the problem is.”

Once the kittens are old enough to leave their mum and they have all been neutered and vaccinated, they’ll be ready to find new loving homes. They are sure to put a spell on your heart, so keep an eye on our Cat Adoption page for when they are ready for adoption.

Mayhew’s Animal Welfare Officers and Vet Team respond to hundreds of abandoned, neglected and abused animals every year and provide ongoing support to carers and pet owners in vulnerable situations. Find out more about their work by visiting here and please consider a donation to help them help even more animals.

If you or anyone you know needs to speak to a Mayhew Animal Welfare Officer or to find more about our Pick & Snip scheme, then you can call the Home on 020 8962 8000.