When working his dream job as a vet, 27 year old Australian, Dr Flynn Hargreaves, ended his life. His best friend has developed the Flynn’s Walk foundation in his honour.

‘An Australian vet takes their own life every 12 weeks. …

‘In Australia, vets are four times more likely to die by suicide than the general population and, two times more likely than other medical professionals, the Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) reports.’

…’a vet takes their own life every 12 weeks [in Australia].’

‘Emotional stress, low pay, unrealistic expectations from clients, euthanising animals and long hours are all known contributors to poor mental health within the field.’

What is it like for pound and shelter vets and allied staff?

Now, imagine the additional stressors to vets, nurses and other staff who work in shelters and pounds, where it’s just expected that they’ll kill an endless stream of healthy and treatable animals, day in and day out. Animals who have been failed by us. Animals who will pay the ultimate price for our failures.

This high level of killing is because our animal management practices aren’t based on science or evidence, but on ‘compliance’ with ‘regulations’; regulations that also aren’t based on science or evidence.

You can help change this

The Australian Pet Welfare Foundation (APWF) is working to end the killing of healthy and treatable animals in Australia. This will go some way to reducing the psychological damage and suicide risk to vets and other staff who work with companion animals.

The APWF has done the research. They know how we can end the killing. They even know by what year we can end the killing – IF we implement evidence-based methods instead of the ‘we’ve always done it this way’ methods.

They just need support to get those changes done.

But what would we know?

We have been heavy involved with companion animal rescue since 2012. Since that time, the need for animals to be rescued from pounds and shelters hasn’t abated. The killing hasn’t subsided. Volunteer-run rescue groups still carry an unsustainable emotional and financial load.

We know that it’s physically and impossible for us to rescue our way out of the current situation. And that’s why we must change how we manage companion animals.

Please consider a regular donation to the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation

If you wish to:

• reduce the risk of harm to vets and allied staff
• save the lives of large numbers of companion animals
• not have to rescue or foster them all yourself
• reduce the number of stray cats
• save councils money

we believe a monthly donation to the APWF may well be one of the best investments you could make. You will save many more lives than you ever could through rescue.

And, please, be kind to your vets and vet staff.

 

The RSPCA, Lost Dogs Home and other Victorian pound contractors want to be able to rehome your lost animal after just three days, instead of eight. They’re currently asking political parties to support this, ahead of the November election. Major political party’s position will be included on an RSPCA election scorecard.

Please tell political parties NO.

The many problems with this idea

1. Microchips aren’t foolproof
2. ‘They’ll come home. They always do’
3. Physical visits to pounds/shelters needed. Calls aren’t enough
4. More unreasonable pressure on rescue groups
5. Scaredy cats are behind the 8 ball. Again.
6. It’s not about disease management
7. What’s with the word ‘quarantine’?
8. ‘Animals are reclaimed in 1.66 days on average’. Really?
9. ‘We don’t want to kill them on Day 4.’ Yet.

Act now! Don’t let them stop the clock at three days.

1. Email lower house stakeholders
2. Email upper house stakeholders and candidates
3. Sign the petition (less effective than personal emails or calls, but still helpful)

The many problems with this

1. Microchips aren’t foolproof

• Microchips aren’t always detected. Lack of detected microchip doesn’t necessarily mean lack of a family
• Microchips move, fall out, fail and may not be registered by the implanter
• Research has found that 37% of microchip contact details are out of date (Lancaster et al, 2015)
• Animals can be scanned incompletely, especially if they’re displaying fear-based aggression in the frightening pound/shelter environment.

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2. ‘They’ll come home. They always do’

1. Many people don’t contact pounds/shelters immediately. They assume their animal will come home, as they have before, or only post in local Facebook groups. This may particularly be the case in rural areas where dogs often go for a wander
2. By the time someone contacts pounds/shelters, their beloved family member may have been adopted by someone else. And they will have no recourse to get them back home.
3. Cats are notorious for ‘running away from home’ when their family is away. What if you’re uncontactable on a once-in-a-lifetime holiday? Neither your cat sitter, nor the pound, will reach you

3. Physical visits to pounds/shelters needed

• People need to visit pounds and shelters when looking for their lost animal – not just call
• Staff usually only check the database, especially in large facilities; they rarely physically look at each animal there
• Database info is often wrong eg a tired staff member ticked male instead of female, or entered them as the wrong breed, or wrong colour
• People who find your animal may take them to a different pound/shelter, not your local one
• There is no central database for all Victorian pounds/shelters. People need to visit every facility where your animal could be
• If:
  • you work full time
  • the pound/shelter is only open during business hours on week days
  • you have no car
  • you can’t raise the money for impoundment and release fees in three days
  • the pound/shelter is more than 100 km from home

how can you get to each pound where your animal may be and reclaim them in just three days?

Example: We once found a dog with no ID tag near a shopping centre. Police came upon us and insisted on impounding her. Pre-Facebook, her family found us through  a shop notice we put up. We explained that she was at the pound. The pound said she wasn’t there. We had to talk to the police who had impounded her before the pound acknowledged she was there.

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4. More unreasonable pressure on volunteer-run rescue groups

• Councils and some pounds/shelters increasingly rely on volunteer-run rescue groups to save the animals who they don’t wish to care for until adoption. Rural pounds often rely on them entirely; any animal who a rescue group can’t save is killed
• The RSPCA has stated that, on Day 4, they want to place animals with rescue groups
• Rescue groups already struggle to source a suitable foster carer, arrange transport and collect animals within the eight day hold period. Few have physical shelters where animals with no other option can stay
• They won’t be able to take in the additional influx of animals, especially in rural areas, after just three days. It is always a rush to do this with the eight day hold period

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5. Scaredy cats are behind the 8 ball (again)

• Timid cats may display fear-based behaviour like hissing, growling or swiping when in new and stressful environments. This doesn’t mean they don’t have a family looking for them. Research shows that it can take between five and 14 days for their true personality to come forth (Slater 2013)
• If these cats can’t easily be adopted, cared for by a pound/shelter’s foster carer or transferred to a volunteer-run rescue group on Day 4, they will become an unwanted ‘expense’ to the pound/shelter. Spicy cats aren’t everyone’s cup of tea, after all. When someone is assessing who lives and who dies on Day 9, what will likely to happen to the spicy cats, after they’ve cost the pound/shelter more money because they couldn’t be ‘moved somewhere else’ on Day 4? It’s unlikely to be good

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6. It’s not about disease management

• The RSPCA has claimed that a three day hold period will reduce transmission of contagious health issues
• This is not true. If animals are held in unsuitable environments, transmission can occur on Day 1
• Transmission can be prevented using sound quarantine and disease management protocols. It doesn’t require a reduced hold period

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7. What’s with the word ‘quarantine’?

• The RSPCA is using the term ‘quarantine’ for the three day period before they want to rehome your animal
• By definition, quarantine is ‘the period for which a person (or animal) is kept in isolation to prevent the spread of a contagious disease’ (Oxford dictionary)
• Contagious health issues like ringworm, parvo, canine distemper etc require much longer than three days to be ruled out. We are puzzled why the RSPCA is using this term
• Stopping the clock at three days isn’t about quarantine

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8. ‘Animals are reclaimed in an average of 1.66 days’

• The RSPCA has stated that, on average, animals are reclaimed in 1.66 days. It hasn’t explained how this figure has been determined and whether it includes animals in rural areas, or just cities
• From our lost cat recovery experience, we find this statistic very puzzling – many people don’t look for their lost cat for several days, because cats do often come home on their own
• Could there be some ‘devil in the detail’ of this figure? For example, could this be the statistic only when:
  • a microchip was detected
  • the contact details were current (only 37% of cases)
  • the person answered the phone when called
  • the person had the funds for the impoundment and release fees
  • the person was physically able to get to the pound/shelter promptly?

If so, it would be incorrect to claim that all animals are reclaimed in an average of 1.66 days.

Example: One person who we helped with a lost cat wasn’t contacted for nearly two business days after she arrived at the pound. Are situations like these included in that statistic?

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9. We don’t want to kill them on Day 4. Yet.

• There is much concern amongst the general population and the rescue sector about the proposal
• More than three weeks after publicly announcing it, and possibly due to the public furore, the RSPCA has now stated that they don’t wish to be able to kill animals on Day 4, just ‘move them somewhere else’
• If the three day ‘move them somewhere else’ proposal passes, is there any reason for us to believe there won’t be a subsequent push to make it legal to kill animals on Day 4, instead of Day 9? The words inches and miles come to mind

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Act now! Tell politicians not to stop the clock at three days

Please contact politicians of all parties, including minor parties, and ask them what their policy is. Ask them to not to stop the clock at three days.

Current lower house stakeholders

Current upper house stakeholders

Current lower house government stakeholders

Current lower house MPs are the most important to contact.

Labor	Head office	info@vic.alp.org.au
	Leader	daniel.andrews@parliament.vic.gov.au
	Min. for Agriculture	gayle.tierney@parliament.vic.gov.au
Liberal	Head office	libs@vic.liberal.org.au
	Leader	matthew.guy@parliament.vic.gov.au
	Shadow Min. for Agriculture	peter.walsh@parliament.vic.gov.au
Greens	Head office	office@vic.greens.org.au
	Leader	samantha.ratnam@parliament.vic.gov.au
	Candidates for Nov election	https://greens.org.au/vic/candidates

 

Current upper house political parties, and candidates for the November election

If you have time, write to these people, too. Help them realise how important companion animals are, before they get in Parliament.

Party	Contact	Email
Democratic Labour	President Hugh Dolan	vicpres@dlp.org.au
Derryn Hinch’s Justice	Head office	justiceparty@justicepartyvic.com.au
Fiona Patten’s Reason	Head office	info@reason.org.au
Freedom Party Victoria	Head office	https://freedomparty.net.au/contact/
Health Australia	Head office	executive@healthaustraliaparty.com.au
Independents	Adem Somyurek	Adam.Somyurek@parliament.vic.gov.au
	Ali Cupper	Ali.Cupper@parliament.vic.gov.au
	Catherine Cumming	Catherine.Cumming@parliament.vic.gov.au
	Kaushaliya Vaghela	Kaushaliya.Vaghela@parliament.vic.gov.au
	Russell Northe	Russell.Northe@parliament.vic.gov.au
	Suzanna Sheed	Suzanna.Sheed@parliament.vic.gov.au
Liberal Democrats	Head office	contact@ldp.org.au
Nationals	Head office	https://vic.nationals.org.au/contact/
Shooters, Fishers and Farmers	Head office	vicinfo@sff.net.au
Sustainable Australia		Clifford.Hayes@parliament.vic.gov.au
Transport Matters	Head office	admin@transportmatters.org.au
Victorian Socialists	Head office	https://victoriansocialists.org.au/contact

 

Please also sign the petition. (Personal emails are far more effective than petition signatures).

We must not let this pass

If it’s made legal to ‘move animals somewhere else’ after three days, a more reasonable hold period of eight days is unlikely to ever be restored.

We simply can’t allow families to be torn apart after just three days.

It’s not reasonable. It’s not humane. And our animals and fellow Victorians deserve better.

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References

Lancaster E., Rand J., Collecott S., Paterson M. (2015) Problems associated with the microchip data of stray dogs and cats entering RSPCA Queensland shelters. Animals. 2015;5:332–348. doi: 10.3390/ani5020332.

Slater, M.R., Garrison, L., Miller, K.A., Weiss, E., Makolinski, K.V., Drain, N., & Mirontshuk, A. (2013). Practical Physical and Behavioral Measures to Assess the Socialization Spectrum of Cats in a Shelter-Like Setting during a Three Day Period. Animals : an Open Access Journal from MDPI, 3, 1162 – 1193.

Cats and wildlife need you to complete this survey.

The Commonwealth government’s National Feral Cat Management Survey is open. It is for wild cats, not urban strays.

The survey has been heavily promoted on the Threatened Species Commissioner’s Facebook page. If you have ever seen a cat-related post on that page, and read the comments, you’ll know the sort of feedback the survey is likely to receive.

We encourage people to provide feedback from a different, more scientific, viewpoint.

In the absence of representative survey feedback, the government and other anti-cat organisations will use the survey results to further demonise and scapegoat cats.

On this page

• Deadline
• Why cats and wildlife need you to participate
• About the survey
• Preview survey before you complete it
• What to say in the only free-form section
• Complete survey now
  
• Deadline

Deadline

The official closing date is 11:59pm Wednesday 22 August. Researchers will receive feedback until 5pm Friday 24 August.

Why cats and wildlife need you to participate

This survey enables you to express your concerns about the government’s ‘war on cats’. Since the ill-conceived, poorly-designed and unscientific ‘program’ was announced, we have seen:

• an increase in cat scapegoating, vilification and hate speech
• an ongoing failure by governments of all types – Commonwealth, state, territory and local – to protect habitat, adjust fire regimes or address climate change
• slashing of funding and jobs for biodiversity and conservation
• an anecdotal increase in cruelty towards all types of cats, including companion and strays.

Vilifying cats, under the guise of helping wildlife, has become a national past time. This doesn’t help threatened species.

About the survey

• It is about feral cats who live independently of humans, not about urban strays or companion cats
• Separate surveys for and
• Takes 5-10 minutes to complete
• Anonymous; data is collated by RMIT
• Most questions are multiple choice
• There is only one question where you can provide qualitative and constructive feedback
  
• Results will be presented in a research report and possible journal article and presented at conferences
• Questions are quite leading. There are no questions about cruelty. Questions for organisations are solely about the number of cats killed, land mass over which cats are being killed and effort expended in killing cats. There are no questions about wildlife – let alone threatened species – populations before or after the killing

Preview the survey

If you wish, preview the survey questions now.

Preview survey for individuals [Word doc]

Preview survey for organisations [Word doc]

What to say in the only free-form section

There is only one section where you can provide free-form feedback. All other sections are pre-formatted.

If you care about cats, wildlife and their effective and humane management, here are some things you could say. Please write in your own words. Choose what’s most important to you. Please be professional and polite.

Survey methodology is flawed; results are not representative

• The government has made no attempt to ensure that feedback is obtained from a representative cross section of Australians
• No consideration has been given to the bias in survey respondents
• Promoting it online, most predominantly on the TSC Facebook page, will lead to heavily skewed data, as it is being completed by people who already have an anti-cat agenda
• It is no more valid than a newspaper opinion poll
• People can submit multiple responses if they choose to
• It is concerning that RMIT intends to publish the results in a report, at conferences and possibly as a journal article

 

No wildlife monitoring

• The ‘feral cat management program’ does not include any budget for monitoring to determine if it benefits threatened species
• Research shows that random killing of cats doesn’t help wildlife
• If threatened species protection is the aim, monitoring needs to be conducted

Killing cats increases numbers

• Tasmanian research on feral cats (Lazenby et al 2014), and research on many other species of carnivores around the world, indicates that low level killing increases, not decreases, their numbers. View journal article.
• The researchers:
  • observed increases in cat numbers of 75 to 211%
  • stated that any killing program must include monitoring of cat and wildlife numbers
  • stated that cat-proof fences and increasing the number of hiding places (such as log piles) for small prey may be more effective in helping wildlife than killing cats.

Killing, not threatened species protection, has become the goal

• The program’s focus seems to solely be on killing cats.
• Conservationists and biologists advocate that reducing cats’ impact on threatened species is the most important factor, not killing.

Lack of funding in researching effective feral cat management methods

• The government has funded research that estimates the number of certain types of native and introduced wildlife (birds, mammals, reptiles) killed by feral cats. This makes for attention-getting headlines in the media
• However, no funds have been provided to determine how to humanely and effectively reduce feral cat numbers or any impact they have on threatened species populations
• Such funding is urgently needed

Habitat protection and restoration is not being implemented

• With a sole focus on killing cats, reducing the impact of cats on wildlife has been ignored.
• Feral cats’ impacts could be reduced by protecting and restoring habitat

Cruelty is not considered

• Cruelty towards all types of cats – not just those living in the wild – has anecdotally increased throughout Australia
• There is no monitoring of, or apparent concern about, how feral cats are being killed and the level of cruelty they suffer
• The survey indicates that poisoning cats is humane
• There is no physical difference between feral, urban stray and companion cats. When the government embarks on a killing program for a species that is also a companion animal, much greater care is needed to ensure that companion cats are not affected and equally scapegoated. No care has been shown by the TSCs

Critically endangered species not prioritised

• If the aim of the program is to protect wildlife, critically endangered species would have been prioritised for funding under the Threatened Species Prospectus. Instead, the government prioritised programs that would likely be funded by NGOs, philanthropists and other governments

Independent review found funding program is flawed

• The government’s Australian National Audit Office reviewed the Threatened Species Prospectus. The Prospectus encourages NGOs, private philanthropists and bodies other than the Commonwealth government to assist threatened species.
• The audit found the prospectus to be lacking in a number of areas. In particular, no monitoring of its effectiveness is being done

Killing, not species protection, is the sole goal

• Having a basic goal of killing cats does not constitute management. The preservation and recreation of habitat is critical in protecting threatened species. The program does not include this.

TSC conduct on social media

• The TSCs (current and former) have used a ‘kill all cats’ approach on social media
• They have encouraged and facilitated cruelty to cats
• The TSC Facebook page is littered with offensive cat hate speech by its followers
• Cat vilification, hatred and cruelty is actively encouraged (particularly by the former TSC, Gregory Andrews) and is unmoderated
• In contrast, people who oppose cruelty and the unscientific nature of the feral cat program are blocked. This amounts to censorship and propaganda
• The TSC’s failure to adequately moderate the page is unprofessional and a breach of the government’s standards with respect to social media.
• It encourages violence and is jeopardising the safety of people’s family members

TSC KPI to increase Australians’ acceptance of killing cats

• We understand the TSC has a KPI to increase Australians’ acceptance of killing cats
• If this is necessary, we suggest it highlights the program’s flaws more clearly

DoE funding and threatened species monitoring slashed

• Funding for the Department of Environment has been reduced by 25%, with one third of biodiversity and conservation staff to lose their jobs
• One third of Australia’s 548 threatened species are now not being monitored at all
• This is not the action of a government that cares about threatened species. Biologists are concerned that critically endangered species could quietly become extinct without detection

Cats are being scapegoated and are a smokescreen for environmental inaction

• In light of all the factors indicated above, the feral cat program is simply a smokescreen for government inaction on other issues

What happens when it doesn’t work?

• Given the failure to address habitat loss and degradation, fire regimes and climate change, who will the government blame when the ‘kill all cats’ program is a failure, when threatened species’ populations are still in decline and when more species have become extinct?

Complete survey now

Deadline

Complete your survey preferably by 11:59pm Wednesday 22 August. If not by then, submit by 5pm Friday 24 August.

Cats being poisoned. Cats being shot. Cats suffering in cruel leg hold traps for three days.

All this could soon be legal, under proposed Victorian legislation. Cats desperately need you to speak up to stop it.

The government’s plan

The Victorian government wants to class wild cats on government land as a ‘pest’ species, under the guise of ‘helping wildlife’.

The many problems with this

No scientific basis

There is no scientific evidence that random killing of cats in open areas reduces their numbers or helps wildlife. On the contrary, a Tasmanian study found that cat numbers increase.

This will very likely backfire for threatened species.

Costly and futile

Government departments will be sent on a costly and futile exercise of focusing on killing cats instead of helping threatened species.

Cruelty

Once an animal is classed as a pest species, ‘anything goes’. They will be killed with poison. They will be subjected to leg hold traps. Other animals – including people’s lost cats, possums and quolls – will likely suffer agonising injuries and deaths.

If you need a reminder of what a leg hold trap feels like, check out this video (no graphic images; it’s on a person’s hand).

Companion and community cats will be harmed

Members of the public will only hear ‘cats are a pest species.’ Cruelty, vilification and killing of pet cats will be even worse than it already is.

Cats and wildlife need you to speak up

We simply can’t let these laws come in. They are bad for wildlife, bad for cats and bad for taxpayers.

Can cats count on you to speak up for them?

Please speak up today. Comments close 11:59pm Sunday 20 May

Please speak up for cats and wildlife by making a submission opposing this.

What to say

Feel free to use these pointers as a guide. Use your own words. Remember that fact, rather than emotion, will be more helpful to cats and wildlife.

Unscientific

• The proposal is not based on science.
• Many studies have found that simply removing cats does not protect wildlife. Often, other species – both introduced and native – continue to have an impact. Habitat loss and disturbance through clearing and development, fire regimes and climate change affect a species’ ability to survive.
• Research has found that low level killing of cats in open areas increases, not decreases, their numbers (Lazenby et al 2014)
• Research also shows that 30-50% of cats will need to be killed every six months for at least 10 years to reduce numbers (Miller et al 2014). The government cannot achieve this, either financially or practically
• The government will focus on a KPI of dead cats rather than effective actions that will increase threatened species populations
• It is not a long-term solution to the challenges faced by threatened species, such as habitat loss and disturbance, fire regimes and climate change

Strong opposition by the RSPCA and community

• Last year, RSPCA Australia proposed this very thing in its cat discussion paper
• There was overwhelming opposition and the RSPCA no longer supports this. It states, “One of the consequences of labelling cats as…‘pests’ is the demonisation of cats as aggressive predators, leading to a lack of consideration for their welfare and, in the most extreme cases, deliberate inhumane treatment.”
• There are already ‘cat hate’ groups and individuals who justify horrific acts of cruelty to cats, including pet cats, under the guise of saving wildlife. This includes cats who are shot with bows and arrows, poisoned, drowned and tortured
• The RSPCA was not on the Victorian committee that developed this latest proposal
• Animal welfare is clearly not important to the government
• The proposed feral cat ‘code of practice’ has not been developed

Cruelty to wild cats

• Poison will be used to kill cats
• The government will no doubt make it legal for cats to languish in leg hold traps for three days, as it has allowed for dogs. This is barbaric
• The declaration indicates that ‘agents’, such as pest controllers and shooters, can legally kill cats. This will not protect animal welfare, as the fact sheet indicates
• Leg hold traps are opposed by the RSPCA

Cruelty to pet cats

• Cats are Australia’s second most popular companion animal
• However, cat haters will only hear ‘cats are pests’ and will harm people’s pets. They are already doing this
• The government is encouraging cruelty and illegal vigilante activities to kill people’s pets
• There will be no consequences to offenders, just as there are no consequences when protected wildlife are tortured and killed

‘Consultation’

• The government announced a start date, before consultation was completed
• The Minister proudly states that she supports the declaration
• The consultation period is a token exercise
• The government clearly intends to proceed with this scientifically-flawed policy, regardless of feedback

Conclusion

• I oppose this proposal
• It is not based on science. It will lead to government departments focusing on the wrong measure of success and will not protect threatened species. It will waste taxpayer money
• It will lead to further cruelty to all types of cats, including people’s family members
• I urge the government not to proceed
• I ask that it supports scientific research on effective strategies that assist threatened species and provide long-term, humane and non-lethal solutions, rather than ineffective killing of cats

Where to send your submission

Email biodiversity.regulation@delwp.vic.gov.au by 11:59pm Sunday 20 May.

References

Lazenby, B.T.; Mooney, N.J.; Dickman, C.R. (2015) Effects of low-level culling of feral cats in open populations: A case study from the forests of southern Tasmania. Wildlife Research, 41, 407-420

Miller PS, Boone JD, Briggs JR, Lawler DF, Levy JK, et al. (2014) Simulating Free-Roaming Cat Population Management Options in Open Demographic Environments. PLoS ONE 9(11): e113553. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0113553

All cats were rescued, other than one who didn’t make it out of the house alive.

Some amazingly beautiful, affectionate and gorgeous cats have fallen on hard times and urgently need a new place to call home – as either a foster carer, or forever person.

Most of them are confident cats, not scaredy cats.

They are desexed, vaccinated and microchipped..

ADOPTED! Alicia – Gentle soul

Alicia isn’t one to steal the limelight or have a hissy fit. She likes to chill in the background, quietly observing people and cats. She is stunningly beautiful and, when in a quiet place, without other cats to compete with, she loves head scratches and has a very endearing trill.

She has the lot – cat friendly, dog friendly and child friendly. She will also be happy to be an only cat.

If you have a tall cat tower or furniture from which she can survey things, she will love you even more.

Gender	Female
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED! Black Beauty – Shy introvert

Extroverts might rule the world, but introverts can rule your heart.

Black Beauty is a shy, undemanding lady. She is happy to chill in the background, keeping to herself, and not demanding attention.

She would be an ideal cat for someone who:

• wishes to have a cat presence in their life
• wants to help a cat who has fallen on hard times
• wants some cat company for their cat, or
• believes that lap cats are overrated.

Gender	Female
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

Da Vinci – a work of art – UNAVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

Da Vinci is a work of art. Sweet, gentle and loving.

His all time favourite thing in the world? Lying quietly on your lap, enjoying being loved.

He gets on purrfectly with other cats, especially his other special needs cat friend Oodles. He has also lived with dogs and children.

He will love you if you help him keep his fur schmick with occasional brushing.-

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC
Medical notes	Da Vinci is a delightful senior gentleman and is quite frail. He has been experiencing allergic rhinitis (like hayfever, probably due to living with many cats) and has had a nasal infection, which is being treated. He may have early kidney failure and is on a kidney diet.

 

ADOPTED Bicheno

Gorgeous Bicheno has a tiny little rabbit tail instead of the usual cat tail, making him all the more adorable.

He’s great at keeping himself occupied, doing important cat things, while you get on with important people things.

He would love to be an only cat, where he can enjoy a quiet life without any hiss-trionics.  He would also love to have access to a comfy outside enclosure for his cat daydreaming sessions.

He is dog friendly and child friendly.

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED! Bondi – Shoulder rider

Lend me your shoulder and I will grace you with my fluffiness.

Bondi is a super affectionate cat who loves, loves, loves riding around on your shoulders, gently cradling your neck like a fluffy scarf, as you go about your work. Great for winter chills.

He also provides free grooming sessions, licking your skin with his tongue.

If you want a new best friend, Bondi could be it.

Such is Bondi’s love of shoulder riding that he will jump onto you from a distance – so he’s not suited to frail people or young children who might find this unnerving.

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED! Brando – Gentle strutter

 

Super handsome Marlon Brando (Brando to his friends) has a bit of a strut, but he’s very gentle.

This sweet soul found himself living in the equivalent of a cat frat house – nightmare! He would prefer a quieter home with cats who aren’t in his face all the time.

He is super cuddly, confident, energetic and loves to do brave manly stuff, like sleeping in high places.

Going to the toilet will never be the same again – he will want to be with you!

He is dog-friendly and child-friendly.

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED! Beau – Handsome pants

Beau by name, beau by nature.

Beau is a gentle cat who won’t force himself on you, but will lap up the affection you give to him. We like to think of him as a quiet achiever.

He is super handsome with the most stunning markings that you will make you want to while away the hours, just looking at and loving him.

He gets on well with other cats and will also be happy living as an only cat. He is used to living with dogs and kids.

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

Gypsy Rose – Biscuit maker – UNAVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

If your love tank is on the empty side, Gypsy Rose will fill it right up. She loves being adored and adoring her special human. Pick her up and she will start gently making biscuits on you. While you’re holding her, she will nuzzle her head into yours, reminding you that you’re not alone.

Gender	Female
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

St Francis – Blessings on offer – UNAVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

  

Handsome St Francis has a worldly, quiet, confident energy about him – an old soul, if you like. We’re pretty sure he has been here before. He is wise and is far too mature for dramas. Once he knows you, he likes to have a bit of a chat.

We also wonder if he was a priest in a former life. He has been known to ‘bless’ people’s foreheads, gently making a cross on their forehead with his paw.

If you would like a special Tuxedo soul in your life, look no further than St Francis.

He gets on fine with other cats and will also be happy living as an only cat. He has also lived with dogs and children.

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC
Medical notes	St Francis has had anaemia and is underweight. He is in early renal failure. We are working on building him up.

 

Ember – UNAVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

 

Ember is a striking tabby and white lady who might well set your heart on fire.

She’s very affectionate and gets on beautifully with other cats, particularly if they’re ginger! She’s more than happy to be loved on by strangers.

She would like to be adopted with her ginger friend Holly.

Gender	Female
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED! Everest – Cuddler

  

Show me your lap and I will grace it with my fluffy beauty in seconds.

Stunning in his fluffy white coat, with a black fluffy tail and hint of black on his head, Everest is energetic, cuddly and will sleep under your chin if you let him. He will be more than happy to share his feline inspiration and good vibes with you while you work on the computer or watch TV.

He loves spending time looking at nature from his enclosure and would love to be able to continue his love of the great outdoors.

He gets on well with other cats, and also enjoys his own company. He is also dog and child friendly.

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED! Holly – Calm redhead

Who says all ginger cats are male? Not this stunning redhead!

Gorgeous Holly is a treasure. She is calm, chilled and cuddly. Being a beautiful flower, she will respectfully lie next to you instead of smothering you with her fluff. She’s purrfectly find being loved on by a complete stranger.

Holly is very gentle and polite towards other cats – the more the merrier – and is also dog-friendly and child-friendly.

She would like to be adopted with xxx or into a home where there is another cat-friendly cat.

Gender	Female
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED! Bliss

  

Bliss is super affectionate – a real ‘people cat’.

She will reach out to touch you with her paw if you’re near her; she’ll reach up and put her paws on your legs like a dog; she just reaches out for love. She has recently discovered the joy of boxes.

She is an incredibly sweet, affectionate lady.  And is also stunningly beautiful! It’s hard to look past her stunning green eyes, her soft purr and her gorgeous fluffy coat of many colours. And she has a super sweet chirrup instead of a miaow.

Bliss gets on well with other cats, with dogs and with children. Purrfect!

Gender	Female
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

Socrates – Deep thinker – UNAVAILABLE FOR ADOPTION

UPDATE: Sadly, Socrates had kidney issues. Despite intensive care at home and at hospital, he is no longer on earth and has been reunited with his brother Oodles.

Socrates is a special soul. He integrated beautifully with all cats in his foster home and continued to be a true gentleman right till the end. He packed a bit into his three months with us, learning to walk on a harness and lead and loving going for drives in the car.

So gentle and calm was he, that we would carry him into the clinic in our arms (with harness and lead on, of course!), instead of in a cat carrier.

We are fairly confident he is the first cat to go for a walk in his clinic’s new garden, even venturing into the ‘designated doggy poo’ area.

We are sorry your time with us was so short, Socrates. We hope you’re happy being back with your brother. xxx

Socrates is a deep thinker – reflective, quiet and undemanding.

When you’re busy, he will let you do what you need to do, looking at you with his stunning green eyes from his thoughtful soul. And when you’re not, he enjoys being loved, but won’t be too pushy and ‘in your face’.

He often looks like he is frowning, but we think it’s just his fur pattern.

He is gentle and respectful towards other cats and would also be OK on his own.

He gets on well with dogs and kids.

Gender	Female
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED! Jessamine – Adventurous sans hearing

Any deaf person will tell you that their life is just as rich and rewarding as someone who can hear.

And sweet Jessamine is no different.  What she lacks in hearing, she makes up for with her acute eyesight and adventurous nature.

She loves trying new things, is very talkative and very cuddly.

She gets on well with cats, dogs and kids – and boxes!

Gender	Female
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC
Medical notes	Jessamine is deaf. She gently sneezes regularly but this doesn’t seem to bother her.

 

ADOPTED! Curtis and Mayfield – Love playing

Got a shiny, crackly toy? Bring it out and watch Curtis and Mayfield find their inner kitten.

These guys love playing and can make a game out of anything. After being given a Kong toy, they didn’t let it out of their paws for a day!

They are also very affectionate, lying on and next to you.

They are seeking a home where they can continue to share their brotherly love.

They get on well with other cats, as well as dogs and kids.

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED – Sterling

 

Gorgeous grey tuxedo gentleman Sterling is, well, a gentleman. He’ll wait for you to approach him and invite him onto your lap instead of inviting himself. He will give you very gentle head butts while purring softly and loves chin scritches and rump rubs.

He’s a little camera shy!

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED! Imari – Faithful and loyal snuggler

Love biscuits? Love someone making biscuits on your body while you’re holding them?

Imari is your guy.  He loves affection when it’s on offer and is also happy to let you do your thing when you’re busy.

With his stunning amber eyes and pretty tabby coat, Imari will shower you with his gentle love.

Pick him up and it won’t be long before he’s ever so gently kneading into you, purring softly in blissful contentment.

Imari is cat-friendly, dog-friendly and child-friendly. He will also be happy being an only cat – as long as he has an adoring human to dote on him.

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED! Casanova – Handsome lover

Casanova is a lover not a fighter.

And doesn’t he know just how very handsome he is? When he lies down, he will often have one arm stretched out, just like a Playboy centrefold.

Casanova loves the great outdoors and would love to have access to a safe backyard or nice enclosure so he can commune with nature. He won’t say no to doing a bit of rodent control, either.

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED! Zani – Gift from God

Sweet Zani (African for gift from God) is very talkative and gentle.

Zani has been a bit overwhelmed by living in a crowded cat house. He’s made his own space and quite enjoys solitude. He will shower you with love when it’s meal times.

He will be happy living on his own or with another gentle cat. He is fine with dogs and kids.

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

NELSON HAS BEEN ADOPTED! Nelson and Mandela – Best friends

Lonely? You won’t be if you adopt Nelson and Mandela!

These gorgeous brothers love each other and love humans, too.

They are very calm, loving and super affectionate, without being too pushy. Lie down, and it won’t be long before you have one – or two – felines lying on you or with you.

They get on well with dogs and kids.

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED! Tashi

Ah, the stunning beauty of a fluffy tabby lad. And super affectionate to boot. When you’re sleeping, he will cuddle up to you and tuck right into you armpit, gently purring you to sleep. He loves being brushed and even loves tummy rubs!

Tashi is Tibetan for prosperity and good luck. We hope he brings this to the lucky person who adopts him.

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED! Zac and Tex – Lap lovers

Oh my. Two stunningly gorgeous, fluffy, affectionate, smart, tabby and white brothers. Be still my beating heart.

Zac and Tex love each other and love people, too. They are confident with strangers and will be on any willing person’s lap within seconds.

These super smoochers need to stay together.

They get on well with other cats, as well as dogs and kids.

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED! Azure

The stunning Azure is a gentle soul with beautiful blue eyes.

She is very gentle and waits for you to approach her for affection, rather than throwing herself on your lap. Once she moves into a less crowded house, she will be very happy.

She is undemanding, which is purrfectly fine – you can enjoy looking at her stunning beauty from a distance.

Gender	Female
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

ADOPTED! Rockford – Ginger ninja

He could have been a baritone singer. In fact, we think he still is.

Rockford has a really deep voice – no squeaky miaow for him – and he loves using it when he wants to get your attention.

This gorgeous ginger ninja will happily snuggle into a complete stranger and gets on purrfectly with other cats. He has other ginger ninja friends who he enjoys cuddling with. He is also great with dogs and kids.

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

 

RIP Oodles – Loving soul

Tragically, little Oodles’ body was too weak to continue. He left the earth on 1 March. We are very sorry you didn’t get to enjoy a new home and one-on-one lap time.

Oodles has oodles and oodles of love to give.

If you sit down, it won’t be long before he is on your lap, softly purring, eyes gently closed as he soaks up your love and showers you with his calm essence as well.

He loves being kissed and will stay on your lap for as long as you let him. He’s not in a hurry to go anywhere or do anything – just love him.

He is quiet and undemanding and will suit a quiet, gentle home.

He is used to living with dogs and children, but we would love for him to be the light of someone’s life, perhaps living with his friend Da Vinci.

Gender	Male
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC
Medical notes	Oodles has mild hyperthyroidism which has gone untreated. As a result, he is extremely underweight. He has now started treatment and we look forward to seeing this skinny guy get his buff back on. He may also have renal issues and is on a kidney diet.

 

ADOPTED! Ariella – Super smoocher

Sweet gentle Ariella is a 24/7 cuddler. If she could, she’d ride around in your pocket, soaking up every ounce of love you can give her, and showering you with love in return.

She is very gentle, talkative and a super smoocher.

She is a little shy with other cats (they’re not always gentle like she is) and would be happy living on her own or with another gentle cat.

She is dog friendly and child friendly.

Gender	Female
Age	TBC
Microchip	TBC

Brisbane City Council has developed a draft biosecurity plan and is inviting comment.*

Cats will be affected by the plan – stray cats, lost cats, companion cats.

Please write to Brisbane City Council about the plan before 11:59pm Saturday 16 December. More details below.

Remember Brisbane City Council?

Brisbane City Council is notorious for its failure to use sound practices or to minimise cruelty to stray cats.

It uses steel jaw traps on stray cats. It ‘assesses’ whether a cat is stray or owned by poking them with a steel rod while they’re in a trap. It scans them for a microchip in a crush cage, where the microchip may well not register.

Brisbane City Council doesn’t impound these cats at a shelter for a minimum time, so their people can find them, or so they can be adopted. It just traps and kills.

What’s wrong with this?

Lots of things! But the thing that’s most wrong for the biosecurity plan is that none of this will reduce stray cat numbers or wildlife predation. This is the whole purpose of the biosecurity plan.

The numbers of cats BCC needs to kill are just too large, unless it spends many millions each year.

What should Brisbane City Council do?

Unless BCC wants to massively increase its cat killing budget to many millions more in the first year alone, and keep spending millions more each year, forever and ever and ever, it needs to introduce a trap neuter return (TNR) program in urban and semi urban areas.

For less cost, a TNR program will reduce stray cat numbers; it will therefore reduce any wildlife predation; it will reduce resident concerns about stray cats; and it will enable BCC to meet its ‘biosecurity obligation’.

BCC should also introduce free or low cost cat desexing, particularly where there are a lot of stray cats. These are usually in areas of socioeconomic disadvantage. No amount of educating people about desexing their cats will help if people can’t afford it. Education is proposed in the plan.

Brisbane City Council can be an Australian leader

If Brisbane City Council implements a TNR program in urban areas, it will be the first city in Australia to adopt TNR throughout most of its municipality. It will be a leader in urban stray cat management. It will save a lot of ratepayer money. And it will prevent the killing of people’s own cats, and many others, which is very likely happening with its current program.

Please act by 11:59pm Saturday 16 December

We have a short window of opportunity to speak up for Brisbane’s cats. Continuing trapping and killing will bring no benefit to people or wildlife.

The Australian Pet Welfare Foundation has published its submission to help you with yours. Download the APWF submission.

Then use your own words to write yours. It doesn’t need to be long. If you have experience with stray cat management, especially with reductions in complaints after TNR was implemented, share it. SPEAK UP.

Email your comments to biosecurity@brisbane.qld.gov.au by 11:59pm Saturday 16 December.

What to say

Here are some points you can make. Choose the ones that mean the most to you. Use your own words.

• The current trap and kill program won’t reduce stray cat numbers long term and therefore won’t benefit wildlife
• You oppose the use of cruel foothold traps. Cats could suffer in agony for at least 15 hours before being killed. The RSPCA opposes their use, for any species
• You oppose killing cats by intracardiac injection (heartsticking)
• To reduce stray cat numbers (the desire of the plan), through trapping and killing, Brisbane City Council (BCC) will need to trap and kill 56,000 cats in the first year. It will need to continue trapping and killing 40% of Brisbane’s stray cats each year, for at least 10 years
• The cost and logistics of this are prohibitive. It will require the construction of a large, dedicated holding facility
• The trap and kill program will likely kill people’s lost cats, especially if timid
• You ask that they implement the humane and effective alternative, where cats are trapped, desexed, then adopted or returned to their point of capture (TNR)
• This method of biological control is proven to achieve long term reductions in stray cat numbers. It is currently being used for other free-living species, including koalas and kangaroos. The returned cats maintain the territory and prevent other cats from establishing
• BCC can obtain a permit to conduct the TNR from the state government
• Trapping and killing will not:
  • reduce complaints, as more cats will constantly be born
  • reduce the presence of Toxoplasmosis. Kittens are the main carriers of Toxoplasma. Under a trap and kill program, kittens are constantly being born
  • reduce wildlife predation
• Trapping and killing is not cost effective
• A TNR program enables community collaboration and citizen science. Surveys have shown that a majority of Brisbane residents favour TNR over trap and kill

The facts are clear

TNR is the only cost-effective, wildlife-effective, people-effective and council-effective way of reducing urban stray cat numbers in Brisbane. It is the only way of meeting community expectations to avoid cruelty and reduce killing.

Don’t believe us? Read the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation’s submission in detail. Then read all the scientific papers that are cited in it.

Email your comments to biosecurity@brisbane.qld.gov.au by 11:59pm Saturday 16 December.

 

* Well, Brisbane City Council is inviting comment from select people. Most people, including animal welfare organisations, weren’t aware of the draft plan until recently. It hasn’t been published on the community consultation ‘Have your say’ page of their website. Instead, it’s been published five web pages deep, at the bottom of another page. Take the challenge and try to find it.