RSPCA and AWL: Cat management in South Australia is ineffective and unsustainable
October 28, 2019This opinion piece was first published in The Advertiser on October 22, 2019.
Written by Paul Stevenson and Richard Mussell.
The warmer spring and summer months are almost upon us – and so is kitten season.
It’s a timely reminder our state needs to reconsider our approach to cat management, the overpopulation of unowned cats and cat welfare generally.
Despite numerous studies and community consultation exercises to solve the problem of unowned cat numbers, we again find ourselves bracing in anticipation of a massive influx of kittens in coming months.
With more than 10,000 cats and kittens coming into the RSPCA and Animal Welfare League last financial year, we believe a comprehensive plan to tackle the complex issues is needed. Our community can no longer ignore this burgeoning animal-welfare issue, and charity organisations such as ours can’t continue to carry the burden of responsibility with no real solution in sight.
Both the RSPCA and AWL rehome all healthy and behaviourally suited cats and kittens, with no restrictions on the maximum number of days spent in care.
This requires enormous staff and volunteer resources and comes at a combined cost to our charities of more than $6 million a year.
With finite capacity, and limited donations and adopters, the current approach to cat management in South Australia is not only ineffective, it is unsustainable.
We recognise charities aren’t the only ones impacted by this perennial issue either.
Uncontrolled cat habitation in urban environments, particularly that of semi-owned and unowned domestic cats, has undeniable impacts on communities, councils and cat welfare.
In an attempt to combat issues, several councils have recently introduced bylaws regarding cat containment, curfews and registration. But tackling the issue in isolation, without a consistent approach, will have limited impact over time.
Rather than a raft of costly and ultimately ineffective bylaws, we believe the solution to curb cat overpopulation needs a statewide plan.
That is why, for the first time in the history of our organisations, RSPCA and AWL have come together to develop a pragmatic and comprehensive cat management plan for SA.
To date, we have lagged behind other states already seeing results from the adoption of a consistent approach to cat management, which has stemmed the tide of uncontrolled cat breeding and reduced overall numbers.
Following engagement with the State Government, councils and interest groups, we expect to release the collaborative plan before the end of the year.
If all accept cat management is everyone’s responsibility then we have the best chance of success.
Paul Stevenson is RSPCA South Australia’s chief executive and Richard Mussell is AWL’s chief executive.
If you can’t keep strays, then Catch, desex, release. Please. I’ve done this five times and kept 3 forever ❤️ It’s the best way to control the kitten explosion and ferals. Registration is not the answer to abandoned cats.
Great that these two organisations are working together for the good of the animals and the community! It is not a competition, it is about obtaining the best result in managing this overwhelming problem! Wishing you success.
Thank you for all your support, Gayle!
This is the second post on this issue. I agree with Lesley Bunt, “Catch, desex & release. I have desexed 3 cats in 10 years, 2 in the last couple of months, all of which are not mine who come & sit under my trees in my garden. I have almost come to my choking point, and I still have one of the back neighbours Queen who just had her second litter in the last couple of months. The law did not go far enough, the law should have been ALL CATS REGARDLESS OF AGE MUST BE DESEXED. Help me God, I have already parted with 9 cats to the AWL since December 2018. I am drowning in cats.
This solution in part will help ,though the mindset has to change in a number of areas in regard to felines, to stop the unwarranted abuse done in the guise of protecting wildlife, and the need to maintain a sustainable feline population by TNR and natural decline. The Laws have not kept up to the legal requirement of this State, , with it being law to formally ID one’s “property” with a microchip, the penalty for abuse, illegal trapping / transportation and destruction by un- authorized persons has to be increased , at this stage , neither the law to impose a worthwhile penalty or pet owner any right to compensation for loss , injury or the financial liability incurred resulting from third party “Property” damage. Apart from the uncontrolled breeding, what is needed is an attitude, same as seen in the the ” KEDI ” documentary .