Kittens on the streets: Cat keepers abandoning little cats

Residents of Nairobi are raising concern over increasing cases of abandoned kittens helplessly roaming the estates.

The wandering kittens have become a menace in estates – sneaking into houses in search of warmth and food.

Residents are accusing pet keepers of intentionally abandoning new-born kittens in the estates.

“I have had three encounters with abandoned kittens. In one instance, I found a kitten stranded in my balcony. My son insisted we keep it. I said no because it looked sickly and emaciated,” says Pili Ng’ome who lives in a gated community in Embakasi.

“Then there is this one time that a kitten followed me to the house – and refused to leave. I kept it in the house for three days at my son’s insistence. The kitten had been abandoned, says Pili.

James Njoroge, a caretaker in Komarock said he has had to put a notice banning raring of cats in the apartments because some of the owners abandon them – leaving him with the headache of having to deal with homeless kittens.

“Some of the kittens survive – and grow into big outdoor cats – but many kittens die because of the harsh weather, mistreatment by people and dogs roaming the streets,” says Njoroge.

Beatrice Achieng who keeps cats cautions against mistreatment of pets.

“As a cat keeper you have the option of having your female cat neutered or male one sterilised by a trained and qualified vet. Once neutered, your cat will not produce any (unwanted) offspring,” says Achieng.

She adds that pet keepers have the option of surrendering pets to certified organisations that care for pets.   

One such organisation that can help is the Kenya Society for The Protection & Care of Animals (KSPCA).

KSPCA is a safe haven for thousands of animals – responding to more than 6000 welfare reports every year. It also does treatment and rehabilitation of seriously injured and sick animals – while working to enforce and improve the law.

The Nairobi City County in 2024 proposed an Animal Control and Welfare Bill – which addresses the welfare and control of cats.

The bill proposed an annual license fee of Ksh200 for each cat.

“One license shall be issued free of charge for a cat which has been neutered during the twelve months’ period immediately preceding the application for the license subject to the owner providing a copy of a certificate from veterinary surgeon that the cat has been neutered,” states the bill.

According to the bill, if the ownership of a licensed cat changes hands, the new owner may be issued a new license by the Head of County Veterinary Services upon payment of the transfer fee of shillings one hundred or as specified in the current Finance Act.