Who's for cats?

There are currently around half a million unowned (stray and feral) cats in Victoria ^[1].

Annually, approximately 50,000 cats are impounded, and 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 in Victorian shelters are healthy, sociable kittens . There are simply not enough people to adopt them.

During May 2008 you can desex, microchip and vaccinate a semi-owned cat for $60!

As part of the "Who’s for cats?" campaign, RSPCA Victoria, in conjunction with other organisations, is offering desexing, vaccination and microchipping of semi-owned cats for just $60, a saving of up to $200.

Click here to find out more!

This situation is unacceptable on ethical and animal welfare grounds.

It causes enormous stress for pound and shelter staff, who love cats but are forced to euthanase so many because they have no alternative.

The impoundment and euthanasia of these cats costs an estimated $5 million per annum.

Unowned cats are also a significant source of nuisance in the community. They prey on wildlife, spray strong smelling urine around houses and cars, fight with owned cats, spread disease, yowl at night, and defecate in gardens and sandpits.

Unowned cats often suffer from very poor health, and live in a state of starvation and disease. The average life expectancy of an unowned cat is 3 years, compared to 12-15 years for an owned desexed cat.

Unowned cats coming into shelters and pounds can be underweight, sick with cat flu, or have heavy flea and worm infestations. They may have injuries from fights or from being hit by cars. They may also have developed skin cancers, or contracted fatal diseases such as feline AIDS ^[2].

Causes of the problem

The cat overpopulation problem 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 feeding unowned cats but not taking full ownership or responsibility for them.

A survey by Monash University ^[3] found that 22% of people said they fed a cat that didn’t belong to them. People feed unowned cats because they genuinely care about them, and feel sorry for them. However many people don’t realise that they are causing a bigger problem by feeding, but not owning (eg desexing and identifying) these cats.

Feeding unowned cats helps keep them alive and strong enough to reproduce. They keep breeding more and more kittens into a life of disease and neglect. This contributes to the tragic cat overpopulation problem in Victoria.

The solution

Feeding unowned cats isn’t the answer.

If you want to help you must either take ownership of a cat, or call your local council.

Please don’t feed a bigger problem.

[1] Department of Sustainability and Environment (2003). Protect your cat. Protect your wildlife. Retrieved 10-Aug-06

[2] Marston, L., Bennett, P., Toukhsati, S. (2006). Cat Admissions to Melbourne Shelters. A report to the Bureau of Animal Welfare. Animal welfare Science Centre, and Monash University, Melbourne Australia.

[3] Toukhsati, S., Coleman, G. J., & Bennett, P. C. (2005). Community Attitudes and Behaviours Towards Cats. Melbourne, Australia: Animal welfare Science Centre.

Related materials

How can I help?

Desex your cat
If you haven’t desexed your cat or know someone who hasn’t please stop the production of more unwanted cats and have your cat desexed now.
Take ownership of a stray
Don't just feed a stray, you are contributing to the bigger problem.
Report strays to your local council
Help reduce the number of strays on the streets

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