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On 22 June 2025, WAW successfully neutered 70 cats in a single day during a special low-cost clinic for pet owners in St Helens and Widnes, a remarkable achievement made possible by the dedication of local vets, nurses, and volunteers.
The event took place on Sunday 22 June at Bold Vets in Sutton Heath, who kindly donated the use of their practice and had members of their own team volunteering on the day. Despite the wet and windy weather, the team treated 38 female cats (spays) and 32 male cats (castrates). The £10 clinic also included microchipping, with additional help from WAW volunteers and the St Helens Cats Protection Team, who transported cats, registered chips, and supported intake and admin throughout the day.
The one-day neutering blitz was powered by 15 volunteer vets and vet nurses, several of whom were from Bold Vets, as well as a brilliant team of WAW supporters behind the scenes.
Julie Pickett, WAW Trustee, said:
“We’re incredibly grateful to Bold Vets for opening their doors to us and to everyone who gave up their time, especially in such miserable weather! Neutering 70 cats in a day is a massive achievement, and it shows what’s possible when a community pulls together.”
The event was part of WAW’s ongoing mission to reduce the number of unwanted and abandoned cats in the local area. With rescue centres across the UK at capacity and kitten season lasting from spring through autumn, demand for support is higher than ever.
“Last year we rehomed 375 cats,” added Julie. “Already this year, we’ve rehomed 177 — and the demand isn’t slowing down. We currently have 46 kittens in our care and more than 60 cats waiting to come in. Clinics like this are absolutely vital to help prevent unwanted litters and ease the pressure on rescue services.”
Volunteer veterinary nurse Claire Shepherd, who helped organise the day, said:
“It was such a busy, positive day with so many people giving their time to help local animals. There’s still a myth that neutering is costly or hard to access, but there are plenty of low-cost schemes out there. It’s one of the simplest ways to stop more cats from ending up in rescue.”
Neutering doesn’t just help control the cat population; it also improves a cat’s health and behaviour. Neutered cats are less likely to roam, fight, spray, or become lost, and they generally live longer, healthier lives. Kittens can become pregnant as early as four months old, so early neutering is essential.
Thank you to our supporters
WAW would like to thank the following businesses for their kind contributions:
- Hills Pet Nutrition – food donations
- Pet Remedy – calming wipes
- Elanco – lunch for volunteers with lots of pizza
- Petplan – drinks and snacks to keep everyone going
WAW receives no government funding and relies entirely on public donations to continue this life-saving work. If you’d like to support our neutering programme, rescue efforts, or rehoming work, you can find out more about how to make a donation here.