Animal Aid is concerned about the number of kittens being born into lives of severe disease, neglect and starvation every year, particularly in urban areas of Melbourne.

THE PROBLEM
It is estimated that there are currently around half a million unowned (stray and feral) cats in Victoria. The result of this is approximately 50,000 cats ending up in pounds and shelters around the state each year. A staggering 35,000 of these have to be euthanased (‘put to sleep’). This is mainly due to poor health, or because not enough homes can be found for them.

Tragically, thousands of the cats that have to be euthanased each year are healthy, sociable kittens. There are simply not enough people to adopt them.

Animal Aid believes that this situation is completely unacceptable on both ethical and animal welfare grounds.

THE CAUSE
Cat overpopulation is due to a number of factors, such as supply exceeding demand and the ability of cats to breed extremely quickly. Research has also found that a major contributing factor to this problem is people who feed unowned cats but do not take full ownership or responsibility for them.

People who feed unowned cats do so because they genuinely care about them, and feel sorry for them. However, by choosing to feed them they are in fact inadvertently causing a bigger problem.

Feeding unowned cats helps to keep them just healthy and strong enough to reproduce. If they are left to continue breeding they can produce more and more kittens destined for a life of disease and neglect. This contributes to the tragic cat overpopulation problem in Victoria

THE SOLUTION
Feeding unowned cats is NOT the answer.

Currently, there are still too many people who have a negative opinion of cats. This is, for the most part, because of the over population problem resulting from semi and un-owned cats. But we can do something about it; we can all play an important part in fixing this tragic problem.

If you want to be a part of the solution then contact your council to either take ownership of the cat or arrange to have it impounded.

So please don’t feed a bigger problem, either make them your own or give them the chance of finding a permanent home.

HOW DO I TAKE OWNERSHIP OF A CAT?
Once you have contacted your local council to ensure the cat is not already owned, and your council has allowed you to adopt the cat (or kitten), there are a number of important things you need to do. These include having the cat or kitten’s health checked by a veterinarian, and having the cat or kitten microchipped, registered and desexed.

This is where “Who’s for cats?” animal welfare campaign comes in. Animal Aid, in conjunction with The Lost Dogs’ Home, RSPCA Victoria, Cat Protection Society and Lort Smith Animal Hospital will desex and microchip a ‘semi-owned’ cat at a heavily discounted fee for people who are willing to take full ownership of the cat.

At Animal Aid, just $65 will cover the cost of desexing and microchipping a cat in the month of March. This equates to a discount of more than 60% on our regular price, an offer we hope is too good to refuse. To make your appointment contact our Vet Clinic on 9739 0500.

HOW DO I ARRANGE TO HAVE A STRAY CAT REMOVED FROM MY STREET?
If there are stray cats in your area that you want to have removed, you can get advice from your closest shelter or speak to your local council’s animal management or local laws department.

WHERE CAN I GET MORE INFORMATION?
For more information call 136 186 or visit www.whosforcats.com.au