The Animal Welfare Directorate is in dire need of temporary homes for dozens of kittens that have found refuge at its centre with the arrival of spring. Over the past two weeks, some 100 kittens in need of bottle-feeding have been brought to the Għammieri government farm... and more are on the way.

Animal welfare manager Janice Chetcuti said many kittens had already been welcomed at volunteers’ houses but some 20 were landing at the centre every day, so there was a constant need for homing.

Those interested will be given everything the animal needs, including medicine, bottles and milk, until the cats can start eating on their own.

The directorate will then take them back and look for a permanent home for them. Ms Chetcuti appealed to the public not to take kittens away from their stray nursing mother, even if they noticed that she was leaving their side from time to time.

In most cases, it would be just to search for food. Only if abandoned for hours should the kittens be taken in, she added.

The directorate can be contacted on 2292 4224, 2292 4132, 2292 4113 or online at animalwelfare.mrra@gov.mt

Hundreds of kittens have turned up at the animal welfare department in need of surrogate mothers. Photo: Chris Sant Fournier

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