A humane program to reduce the number of stray cats in the inner-city has already seen dozens of unwanted kittens taken off the streets and adopted by Sydney families.
Under the City of Sydney trial, 40 kittens were adopted over four months. Removing these kittens from the feral cat colonies will mean 320 less cats on the street in 12 months and 1,200 less cats in two years, without any animals being culled.
The City’s feral cat program is the first of it’s kind in NSW and received a $7,500 grant from the Office of Local Government under the Responsible Pet Ownership grant scheme. The City also contributed $7,500 in funding to the program.
Under the pilot program, kittens were caught, desexed, vaccinated, wormed and treated for fleas and common illness, with costs subsidised by the City. Vet hospitals and volunteers socialised the kittens ahead of their adoption.
Following the success of the trial, the City is now looking to extend the program and further reduce feral cat numbers in Sydney through this humane approach.
Lord Mayor Clover Moore said kitten adoption was one step in the City’s efforts to reduce stray cat numbers, and was in keeping with the Ciy’s no-kill policy for unwanted animals.
“Pets are much-loved and important family members in many households.The City is committed to promoting responsible pet ownership and the benefits of companion animals,” the Lord Mayor said.
“As well as this compassionate approach to reducing feral cat numbers and rehoming kittens, the City runs education workshops, and offers subsidised cat and dog desexing and free microchipping for the pets of eligible pensioners who live in our LGA.
“The State Government recently announced its plan to cull two million cats by 2020. This has upset residents, pet rescue organisations and voluntary groups. The City’s approach has proven an effective way to reduce the number of feral cats in our area without resorting to killing,” the Lord Mayor said.
There are nine known feral cat colonies in the City’s LGA, mostly within newly developed high density areas around Woolloomooloo, Redfern, Waterloo, Alexandria, Zetlands, Rosebery, Glebe, St Peters and Pyrmont.
The City’s kitten rescue and re-homing scheme has the support of local veterinary hospitals and voluntary organisations.
Alexandria Vet Hospital treated and helped re-home kittens as part of the City’s program. Hospital Co-owner, Doctor Michael Stephen, has welcomed the City’s initiative.
“Feral cats and kittens are a problem in certain areas throughout the inner-city. Diseases are being spread to house cats and the feral cats are a threat to local wildlife,” Dr Stephen explained.
“Desexing and getting cats off the street is the one proven way to reduce feral cat numbers. We definitely support this important program and are grateful to the City for spreading the messaging in the community. We don’t want to see kittens put down.”
Elizabeth and Peter Evans adopted brother and sister kittens Daisy and Chester through the City’s program. Elizabeth says they were thrilled to be able to give the cats “a second chance at life”.
“The kittens had been hidden by their mother at the back of a Newtown shop. They were in a very poor state when they were found and sadly one of them died soon after being rescued,” Ms Evans said.
“When they were saved, the kittens were skin and bones, sick and timid. But now they love nothing more than chasing each other around the house, eating together and snuggling up. Daisy and Chester adore me and my husband and continue to bring so much joy to our family.
“I always wanted to adopt a rescue cat, and these kittens had already used up a few of their nine lives. This was our chance to give these kittens a loving home and a happy life.”
The City also has a long-term arrangement with Sutherland Shire Council and works with Sutherland Animal Shelter to care for the City’s lost and abandoned animals.
Reflecting the City’s Companion Animals Policy, the Shelter rehomes the majority of impounded animals in less than three months.
For media inquiries or images, contact City of Sydney Senior Media Advisor Belinda Wallis on (02) 8974 4153 mobile: 0467 810 160 or bwallis@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au
For interviews with Lord Mayor Clover Moore, contact Paul Mackay on 0432 182 647 or pmackay@cityofsydney.nsw.gov.au