advocacy

There are many ways you can help to promote better feline welfare.

You can promote desexing – Cat Protection has a range of discount desexing programs and you can help by posting this desexing ad on your local community notice board, at local shops or in ethical pet shops; you can check the National Desexing Network website www.ndn.org.au for desexing options outside of Sydney or call Cat Protection for more information on promoting desexing in the community
Writing letters and talking to your local councillors and your local state Member of Parliament about feline welfare issues
Responding to ads promoting ‘free’ kittens by calling the person and letting them know discount desexing is available for the mum and reminding them that even though kittens are cute and adorable, it doesn’t change the fact that tens of thousands of cats are killed in NSW every year due to feline overpopulation
You could drop this desexing flyer in the letterbox of people selling or giving away kittens: it reminds them of their legal responsibilities and how to get help with desexing their cat
Be informed and share your knowledge with friends and family: most people like animals and don’t want them harmed but are simply ignorant about many issues such as feline overpopulation, puppy farms or the unnecessary use of animals in research. For more information on alternatives to animals in research, look at the website of Medical Advances Without Animals, www.mawa-trust.org.au
There are regulations that govern the keeping of pets in pet shops – click here for a summary – ask questions about pets in pet shops: where did they come from? (Backyard breeders? Puppy farms?) What will happen if they aren’t sold? What does the shop do to avoid impulse purchasing?
Report cruelty. Cruelty to animals is illegal. Report cruelty to your local police. The RSPCA NSW on 1300 CRUELTY (1300 278 3589) or (02) 9770 7555 or via their online form The Animal Welfare League NSW on (02) 8777 4444 or via their online form. Please note that Cat Protection does not have investigation and prosecution powers under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act
If you live in strata title, make sure your body corporate rules are pet-friendly. If you’re a landlord, be pet-friendly – for more information go to our page Renting and strata for cats
Encourage friends, neighbours, colleagues and family to adopt from Cat Protection, to become members, volunteers or to donate
If you don’t keep your old copies of Cat Affairs leave them somewhere like doctors’ or dentists’ waiting rooms or at the hairdressers where others can read them
Lead by example: be a responsible cat owner
To see Cat Protection’s submissions on feline health and welfare, click here