The little cat Snowy has arrived at the Heuchelheim animal oasis after a long journey with several stops. At just six weeks old, he was separated from his mother far too early.
Heuchelheim/Gießen – Snowy is his name and he is now seven weeks old. The little cat has already been through a lot in his young life. He was separated from his mother far too early and was brought to Germany from abroad. He has now found shelter in the Heuchelheim animal oasis.
Kater can only stay with his new family in Frankfurt for a very short time
The little cat was recently offered in classified ads on the Internet. Ilse Toth suspects a seller from abroad. The pensioner has been an animal rights activist for many decades and co-founder of the Tieroase Heuchelheim. A woman from Frankfurt offers to buy Snowy. “For a whopping 200 euros,” says Toth incredulously. Because the animal is not vaccinated, chipped, dewormed or neutered, this price is pure money-making. A tenth of that, 20 euros, is more like the normal price.
But Snowy can only stay with the woman in Frankfurt for a very short time, says Toth. The sick son couldn't get along with the kitten and couldn't get used to the change: the woman had to give it back. Her path led again through classified ads.
Snowy the cat was separated from his mother far too early
“Two animal rights activists in our area came across this ad,” says Toth. The students repeatedly looked at the internet portal to warn people not to sell or buy animals through classified ads. They posed as interested parties to the Frankfurt woman and took the kitten. “We as an animal oasis then agreed to act as a reception center. Snowy is now in one of our foster homes.”
Ilse Toth has long been an absolute opponent of buying animals in classified ads or generally on the Internet. “As sad as it is for the animal: Please don’t buy it!” she warns. The problem with this is that it becomes a vicious circle. “Whoever buys animals online encourages people to bring more animals into the world and breed them.”
Animals from abroad are a particularly big problem
“A living animal should never be advertised as an object,” says the animal rights activist. Another problem is that many of the animals come from abroad. When traveling within the EU, certain regulations must be adhered to, such as certain vaccinations.
It is forbidden to simply bring an animal from a non-EU country to Germany. “Turkey, for example, is not in the EU and rabies is a big issue there,” says Toth. A rabies vaccination, which entails official regulations, is a prerequisite. “After all, despite all animal protection, no diseases should be introduced.” Such cases can already be observed with distemper, a disease that currently particularly attacks raccoons and foxes.
Little cat Snowy is going to the vet next week. He currently has to live in isolation so that if he becomes ill he doesn't infect his “roommates”. A few months ago, an animal shelter had to stop accepting cats for the same reasons - because all new cats had to be kept in isolation. He will then be vaccinated, chipped and dewormed.
A live animal should never be advertised as an object.
Ilse Toth
“He was separated from his mother far too early,” says Toth. As a rule, cats are only adopted when they are twelve weeks old. “Now he has to calm down first.” But she is happy that Snowy is currently alert and eating well. “He’s a funny little cat.”
Finding Snowy the cat shouldn't be a problem
Toth knows that when he has completed all his appointments with the vet and is a little older, he can be adopted by the Tieroase Heuchelheim. “But that shouldn’t be a problem, I think. He’s just super sweet.” (Rebecca Fulle)