Community Cat Program
Progressive Cat Management
Introducing this transformational research project in Australia will determine whether a community-based cat management program will reduce stray cat numbers in our communities, reduce the killing of cats and kittens in shelters and pounds, and reduce the negative emotional impact on those carrying out the killing.
Based on proven and extensive overseas research, we expect the Community Cat Program will lead to:
- 30% decrease in cat intake into pounds and shelters from target areas after 1 year
- 50% decrease in the killing of healthy and treatable cats from target areas after 1 year
- 30% decrease in stray cats in target areas by year 2
- continuing declines in subsequent years
- less killing of healthy and treatable cats and dogs
- greater proportion of cats and dogs adopted
- less damage to the mental health of staff tasked with euthanasia
The Community Cat Program works in three key areas
Support for those caring for stray cats
Large-scale free desexing to help address high numbers of urban stray cats. Desexed cats will be given essential veterinary care and vaccinated, provided with flea and worm treatment and microchipped. Those caring for stray cats are invited to become the cat’s owner. Following treatment, cats will remain in their outdoor homes
Support for cat owners to desex their cats
Assistance will be provided for cat owners who cannot afford to do it themselves, to help improve the quality of life for their furry companions
Adoption for kittens and socialised cats
Promote adoption to help find loving homes for cats and kittens. Encourage semi-owners to consider full-time ownership of strays. Improves neighbourhood issues involving free-roaming cats
Phase 1
The first phase of this trial has commenced in Rosewood (QLD) and is being driven by the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation. Part of this trial includes promoting the Community Cat Program among residents, free desexing and microchipping of owned and urban stray cats, and rehoming healthy stray cats and kittens.
We’re making progress
Key milestones:
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December 2022
- 1,958 cats desexed in Queensland.
- Of the cats desexed, 58% were females, which prevented at least 5,600 kittens being born in the next 12 months. 46% of cats desexed were under 6 months of age.
- The successful pilot program in the City of Ipswich in Rosewood (population 3,263) has desexed 76 cats per 1000 residents over 30 months.
- Most cats (1,803) have been desexed through RSPCA Wacol site and 57 cats at Rosewood Veterinary Services, 55 at AWLQ and 28 through Greencross Redbank Plains and Ipswich clinics.
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October 2021
- 904 cats desexed. This figure includes a total of 527 female and 377 male cats.
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September 2021
- 772 cats desexed in the city of Ipswich, QLD, which includes 326 male cats and 446 female cats.
- Rosewood, Ipswich witnessed a whooping 50% decrease in shelter intake of cats in just 11 months of targeted desexing!
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August 2021
- 733 cats desexed. This includes 113 cats from Rosewood, 130 cats from Goodna, 317 cats from Redbank Plains, 29 cats from Bellbird Park, 44 cats from Collingwood Park and 100 from other Ipswich suburbs.
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July 2021
- A whopping 600 cats desexed across various Ipswich suburbs including Rosewood, Goodna, Redbank Plains, Bellbird Park, and Collingwood Park.
- The first community pop-up was held at the Redbank Plains Town Square Shopping Centre to encourage more residents to sign up to desex their cats.
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June 2021
- 553 cats desexed, microchipped and vaccinated. This includes 242 male cats and 311 female cats.
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May 2021
- 447 cats and kittens desexed, microchipped and vaccinated from Rosewood, Goodna, Redbank Plains and other Ipswich suburbs.
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April 2021
- 266 cats desexed, microchipped and vaccinated from Rosewood, Goodna, Redbank Plains and other Ipswich suburbs 🐈
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March 2021
- 109 cats desexed in Rosewood and Goodna 🐈
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February 2021
- Goodna trial kicked off 🏁
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January 2021
- 71 cats desexed 🐈
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November 2020
- First urban stray cat desexed and ear-tipped 🐈
- 50 cats desexed 🐈
- First kitten rehomed through RSPCA 🐈
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July 2019
- Ethics approval for the first trial ✅
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June 2019
- Rosewood restricted matter permit 📃
We know that this trial can lead to more humane outcomes for stray cats and the community. Curious to know more?
What the community is saying...
Free desexing is already creating a positive impact on the residents in the Ipswich community.
Stakeholders & Project Partners
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Join us
in creating a better future for cats...
PetRescue is proud to be part of this landmark research, and we are calling on all those concerned with making Australia a safer, happier place for both cats and humans, to join us in making this groundbreaking research a reality.
As the first phase of this trial gains momentum, there is an opportunity for you, as a cat-lover, to be a part of something unique, and help bring change on a systemic level.
We're inviting funding partners and donors to support this trial and to take the first step towards a better future for cats and those who care for them. Get in touch with the Australian Pet Welfare Foundation for more information.