Toowoomba Petstock, Street Cat Alliance teams up for adopt a pet month

In less than three years, a Toowoomba volunteer run cat rescue organisation has found owners for 180 homeless cats, and are looking for owners for the 70 they have in foster care.

Tracey Tyers, Subi Beattie, and Molly Hall showcase a few of the kittens available for adoption at Petstock, Anzac Ave. Picture: Christine Schindler

In less than three years, a small team of Toowoomba volunteers have found homes for 180 rescue cats, and looking for another 70 homes so they can continue their work rescuing street cats.

When Tracey Tyers found her cat allergies had disappeared in her mid-forties, she decided to make up for the lost time and founded Street Cat Alliance Queensland.

“My daughter was fostering rescue animals for another organisation and I saw a bigger issue with the cats,” Ms Tyers said.

There are a number of cat colonies throughout Toowoomba and the cats tend to congregate and proliferate around fast food restaurants and shopping centres, and particularly a problem, as cats can start breeding as early as four months, she said.

Tracey Tyers from Street Cat Alliance holds one of the rescue kittens available for adoption. Picture: Christine Schindler

“I wanted to make a difference, cats are harder to home than dogs,” she said.

Since Ms Tyers found Street Cat Alliance Queensland in July 2021 she has rescued 250 cats in total, found homes for 180 cats, and has 70 cats in foster care.

She said it has “barely putting a dent” in the problem, and she can only rescue as many as she can foster or adopt out.

“If we can stop those accidental litters and stop the roaming cats from having babies that will stop many of the requests we have to take them in in the first place,” she said.

While cats, unlike dogs, are more independent, can be neurotic, and come to you on their own terms, she said it is important to make sure anyone wanting to adopt a cat is fully aware of the commitment, responsible cat care and protecting native wildlife.

One small grey cat up for adoption is Pita, a shy timid cat, Ms Tyers said she was found in Pittsworth, run down, covered in fleas, with the cat flu and only one eye.

Molly Hall, a volunteer from Street Cat Alliance holds Pita a cat available for adoption. Picture: Christine Schindler

“This is one of our success stories,” she said.

Petstock assistant manager Subi Beattie said the store also had seen an influx in cats made homeless from the rental crisis, with owners having to give them up if they move house.

In preparation for the national adopt-a-pet month Petstock is teaming up with local organisation Street Cat Alliance on March 15 and 16 where they will bring unwanted felines into the store for adoption and host a fundraising sausage sizzle.

For more information on becoming a foster carer, a new pet parent, or donating to the cause visit Street Cat Alliance’s website.