City joins fight to control feral cats

GREATER Dandenong council has joined a statewide movement that aims to educate the public on what it can do to solve Victoria’s cat crisis.
The Who’s For Cats? campaign, supported by 11 animal welfare and industry organisations, will tackle the issue of owners who neglect their cats leading to the animals becoming feral.
Feral cats live a life of disease, neglect and public nuisance in Victoria, with animal welfare groups estimating that half a million cats are either unhoused or feral.
Outgoing mayor Youhorn Chea said the keys to achieving the campaign’s goal of reducing the unowned cat population was in the hands of the community.
“In the Who’s For Cats? campaign, people who are feeding an unowned cat are being called on to act humanely and take full responsibility for the animal,” Cr Chea said.
“People can do this by contacting the council to seek advice on either taking ownership of the cat, or taking it to a shelter.”
Cr Chea said people often fed unowned cats without realising the consequences of their actions.
“This allows the unowned cat to grow strong enough to reproduce, which results in more kittens being born into a life of disease and neglect,” Cr Chea said. “Unowned cats also create a significant community nuisance, preying on wildlife, making noise at night, spraying strong-smelling urine to mark their territory, fighting with house cats, and spreading disease, among other problems.”
For campaign information and to learn what to do if you find an unowned cat, visit www.whosforcats.com.au or phone 136 186.