Shelters calling for kitten adoptions/volunteers to cope with longer breeding season
More than 800 cats and kittens have filled SA animal shelters after an unusually warm autumn extended the state’s cat breeding season. They need new homes.
SA News
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More than 800 cats and kittens have inundated South Australia’s largest animal shelters in May – an unusually warm autumn extending the breeding season is to blame for the surge.
The Animal Welfare League (AWL) is now seeking community help through adoptions, and the RSPCA is calling for foster volunteers.
The AWL’s cat and kitten numbers for May are 293 per cent more than last year, and 118 per cent more than May 2019.
It says warmer than average temperatures in autumn, backed by Bureau of Meteorology (BOM) data released on Wednesday, is keeping cats on heat for longer – as their kittens’ chances of survival are higher than under normal, cooler conditions.
“We’ve got many cats and kittens available for adoption right now, plus another 60 who’ll be ready for homes by the weekend,” said AWL CEO Dr Julie Bellamy.
The RSPCA is reporting 919 cats and kittens in its shelters in April and May compared to 587 for the same period last year.
“We’re currently facing a chronic shortage of foster carers, particularly for adult cats and larger dogs,” said an RSPCA spokeswoman.
BOM figures show daytime temperatures were warmer than average at most sites in Greater Adelaide in autumn, with 34.2 degrees celsius the highest temperature recorded in April. A warmer winter is also expected.
Port Adelaide Football Club midfielder Tom Rockliff is among the first to help out the AWL before a kitten adoption event on Saturday (June 5).
The star veteran Power player, his wife Sharna and their three-year-old son Jack recently visited the AWL’s Animal Care Centre, at Wingfield, where they met and adopted three-month-old kitten Dewey.
“Jack and Sharna were very keen to get a cat or kitten, and we thought what better way than to adopt and save a cat’s life,” said Rockliff.
Caturday Adoption will run from 10am to 6pm at the AWL Wingfield centre. For more information visit awl.org.au or call 8348 1300. To become and RSPCA foster volunteer visit www.rspca.org.au/support/foster-care/
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