Help save felines from catastrophe

By Shaun Inguanzo
CLIMATE change is contributing to an abnormally high number of kitten births, a Keysborough animal shelter says.
The Keysborough-based Australian Animal Protection Society (AAPS) is this week urging residents who have the space and time to commit to a kitten to venture down to the Homeleigh Road shelter on Saturday.
The shelter is having a Stop This Cat-astrophe day to help find new homes for the rising numbers of cats it is receiving.
If homes aren’t found for the furry felines, the shelter says it will have no choice but to cull cat numbers to comply with strict health and safety standards that dictate how many cats it is allowed to keep on site.
Shelter volunteer and cat lover, Robyn Peck, said the cat problem had become a “critical issue” for all shelters across the state.
She said the growth in numbers could be attributed to the warming effects of climate change.
“A lot of vets are saying they feel climate change and increasing warmth mean the kitten season has extended,” she said.
“It’s normally November through to March, maximum, but it has kept going on and on this year.”
Ms Peck said the kitten season had only just died down – and was set to begin again in two or three months.
To buy a cat, starting from the bargain price of $40, head to the winter adoption day this Saturday between 10am and 3pm.
All cats are desexed, vaccinated and microchipped.
The shelter will give the first 20 new cat owners a free bag of cat goodies, and all cat rescuers will be eligible to win a carry cage crammed full with cat accessories.
Keysborough Animal Shelter is at 10 Homeleigh Road, Keysborough (Melway 94 B1).
Call 9798 8044 for details, or check the web-site www.aaps.org.au.