​5.  Lastly
When you have exhausted all these options, as a last resort you can surrender your pet to your local cat foster network, shelter or vet. They might be able to assist you in finding a suitable new home for your cat or provide guidance.  When surrendering your pet, it is important to disclose all relevant information about their behaviour. For example, if your cat has an aggression problem it could potentially endanger new owners who are trying to do the right thing by adopting a cat.

NEVER abandon your cat or take your cat to a foreign neighbourhood, wooded area or park and leave them behind. Domestic cats are very different to wild cats and can’t fend for themselves. If left alone, they may starve to death, encounter dangerous predators or get hit by traffic.

Conclusion:
Rehoming a cat can be an emotional process and a big decision to make.  By following the steps outlined in this guide, you can ensure that your beloved feline finds a caring and nurturing forever home. Remember to prioritise the well-being and happiness of your cat throughout the rehoming process. By taking the time to find the perfect new home, you are giving your cat the best chance for a happy and fulfilling life.

Remember, rehoming is an act of responsibility and love, and you can make a positive impact on both your cat's life and the lives of potential adopters.

​In November 2022, three kittens were going to be saved by FFARQ from the Rockhampton pound.  However, before we had a chance to transport them to Brisbane, 2 of the kittens had sadly passed away from sickness.The last of the kittens; Ajax, was a sick little kitten from the day of arrival.  He had severe diarrhea, was lethargic and was not eating or drinking.  The vet suggested that he might have a blockage of the intestine and he went to the specialist vet to have a scan.  This proved negative but he was still very unwell. A local vet admitted Ajax into hospital where he stayed for 2 days on a drip, given different medications and special “urgent care” food.

​If you're an indoor cat owner, then you know how important it is to keep them entertained and stimulated.  An indoor cat that receives enough mental and physical stimulation can prevent them from becoming bored or destructive.  Regular dedicated playtime is just as enriching and entertaining for the cat, as it is for the owner.
​
Here we’ve listed some strategies all cat owners can use to keep their indoor cat happy and stimulated.

1.  Cat Playtime
One of the best ways to keep your indoor cat entertained is by playing with them. Cats love to play with their owners, whether it's chasing a toy or playing hide and seek. Regular playtime can help strengthen the bond between you and your cat and keep them mentally and physically stimulated.  Playing with your cat for 10-15 minutes a few times a day will not only keep your cat happy and healthy, but will also strengthen the relationship you have with your furry best friend.

2.  Cat Chat
According to Feline Behaviour Consultant, Beth Adelman, talking to your cat is the most beneficial interaction for you and your pet. Adelman says that while it may not seem like play, it’s really meaningful to your cat. For cats who don’t like to be touched, this is even more important and helps build trust between the cat and their owner. Talking to your cat is easy and can be done anywhere in the house.  Simply get down on his/her level at a normal distance that you would use when talking with a friend. It doesn’t matter what is said, just speak softly and in a high pitched tone, saying your cat’s name often. Keep relaxed and don’t stare as this will make your cat feel challenged. Blink slowly, especially after your cat blinks. A cat blinking is an indication that they are feeling relaxed.

 3.  Interactive Toys
Interactive toys are a great way to keep your indoor cat entertained and stimulated.  There are many different types of interactive toys available for different budgets, such as wand toys, puzzle feeders, and laser pointers.  To find the best interactive cat toys check out Kmart or Petbarn.  Cats need variety just like people do, so rotating the toys they play with is important to keeping them interested. While specifically designed cat toys like feather wands, toy mice and balls that make sounds are great for cats, you don’t have to spend a lot of money to keep indoor cats entertained.  YouTube has tonnes of ideas on how to make DIY home made cat toys such as balls of yarn and crumpled pieces of paper.  

4.  Cat Trees and Scratching Posts
Cats love to climb and scratch, and providing them with a cat tree or scratching post can give them a fun place to play and exercise. It might also save some of your furniture!  There are many different types of cat trees and scratching posts available, from simple scratching pads to elaborate multi-level towers depending on your budget.  Climbing frames are another great idea that can provide your kitty with vantage points in the home near windows allows them to have a safe place to sit back and watch what’s going on outside.  Lastly, many cats love to watch the world go by from the comfort of a window perch. Installing a window perch in your home can give your cat a great view and hours of entertainment. 

5.  Play Chasing and Hide and Seek
Cats and kittens of all ages love to be chased and play hide and seek as a form of play. Often a cat will stand at one end of a hallway and look back at you as they take a few steps away. This is a cue that they would like to be chased. You might notice that if you sneak around the corners of the house they will happily creep up to find you (they always know where you are!).  Cats will generally let you know by making sounds if they aren’t happy with how close you are chasing behind or if they’ve had enough. It’s important that while playing this game that your cat’s tail is always up, which means they are having a good time. If their tail is down it could be a sign that they are running in fear.

​To sum up, keeping your indoor cat entertained is easy, fun and helps to build a strong loving relationship with them.  It's easy to keep your cat happy and healthy on any budget.  Providing them with interactive toys, cat trees and scratching posts, DIY cat toys or window perches, you can ensure that your cat stays happy, healthy, and entertained.

​Stormy weather is the bane of everyone’s existence. Rain, thunder and lightning can dampen anybody’s mood. This is also the case with cats. Our feline friends, like any pets, tend to dislike thunderstorms. The violent weather combined with the ‘build-up of static electricity in the air’ can create immense anxiety in cats.
 
Unlike dogs (who are quite vocal about their disdain for storms), a cat’s reaction to storms can vary. Outward behaviours such as ‘being clingy, restlessness … [and] pacing’ are obvious signs that your cat is distressed. However, if your furry friend tends to stick to themselves, they may hide from the storm in safe places such as ‘under beds or in dark, quiet corners.’ Regardless of how your cat reacts, we’ve put together some tips for how to keep any cat calm during storms.

Photo by Dim Hou on Unsplash

​The most common reaction a cat would have to a storm is to hide. Because of this, it’s important to have a number of hiding places around your residence. These can be as simple as your cat's napping area or leaving a wardrobe open for them to hide inside. Rain and thunder can be loud, so the goal here is make your cat feel as cosy as they can be. With that in mind, keep tabs on where your furry friend is at all times. The more your cat wants to hide, the more reclusive their spot may be. Keep an eye on their physical safety and make sure you don’t accidentally lock them inside something.

Photo by Nick Page on Unsplash

It might seem obvious, but it needs to be said. Cats need to be indoors when storms hit. In this case, you need to be vigilant and be mindful of what the weather is like at the time. According to ‘cat behaviour consultant and … author’ Pam Johnson-Bennett, it’s best to bring cats inside ‘well in advance of inclement weather.’ At the same time, Johnson-Bennett also advises for pet doors to be firmly locked once all cats are inside. As humans, we hate being caught outside during a storm. Cats are the same.

Photo by nine koepfer on Unsplash

Our pets can read us like books. They know what we’re feeling and they’ll base their emotions on ours. When it comes to cats in storms, they’ll panic if they see us panicking. The best way to deal with this is to act as if nothing is out of the ordinary. You might pet your furry friend once or twice, but don’t go overboard.
 
In regards to giving your cat space, this has to do with their behaviour. Generally speaking, cats may want to be left alone during storms. Taking them out of their hiding places or holding onto them will do nothing but make your cat’s anxiety worse. Let your cat know that they are still in your presence, but don’t coddle them. With that being said, if your cat comes to you for comfort, go right ahead and pet them.
 
While there’s a variety of medications and ‘anxiety wraps’ that can keep them calm, the above tips are some of the easiest ways of keeping your furry friends calm during stormy weather.     
​
Written by Matthew Leong for FFARQ

Photo by Kym Ellis on Unsplash

Ever looked at a cat tree and noticed small columns of rope? They’re not there just for decoration. Cat trees offer your pet ‘a built-in scratching surface’ curtesy of the ‘sturdy vertical surfaces’ that they come with. Not only do these posts allow your cat to maintain their claws and satisfy their instincts to scratch, but they also give them the opportunity to mark their territory with ‘a visual mark and a scent’.  ​

As affectionate as cats are, they do appreciate their privacy. Small spaces are popular amongst felines for the security they give him. According to New York Times bestselling author and cat blogger, Kate Benjamin, ‘cat trees that have boxes, hammocks or platforms with raised sides’ are perfect for cats who want to be left alone. Not only that, but if the structure has toys built into it, then your cat can be safely left to enjoy their company. ​

P.S. Here’s a little something to make you smile. ​

Video sourced from: SnowCastle Cats

Written by Matthew Leong for FFARQ

According to a ScienceDaily study in the US, pets are responsible for 25% of the total calories derived from animals. Whilst some pet owners are choosing the path of plant-based diet for their furry friends, this neglect of meat from a cat's diet can be extremely detrimental to their health! Whether you stick to kibble, canned food or even cook it up in the kitchen, the two big things to think about here are brands and packaging. When it comes to brands, do your research and search for sustainable brands. As for packaging, bulk buying pet food can save a lot of excess platic and waste in the long run. 

Playtime should not have to be a drag, but there are many ways that you can avoid using easily breakable or cheap harmful materials. Whether you decide to use second hand, search for economically friendly brands, or even go DIY - sustainability has room for work and play! 

 When it comes to bedding, it's each cat to their own. As some cat owners may know, despite having made up a gorgeously fluffed pile of cushions and pillows made specifically for kitty, sometimes they'll claim the arm of your sofa as their little nook. Similar to toys, paying attention to the brand of bed and using second hand materials can be a great way to ensuure minimal wasteage.

Similar to humans, bathroom procuts can be quite easy to neglect when pursuing environmental sustainability. Even though their washes are not as frequent as ours, making a switch to paraben free or green-friendly shampoos is a great way to keeyp both kitty and the planet clean and pristine!

For younger families in our community, we know that the worlds between “parent” and “pet parent” can be incredibly similar. From messy livingrooms to unpredictable emotional outbursts - both children and cats require a lot of attention of their own; but how do you combine the two under one roof? For some families, the choice to adopt a pet often creates a great opportunity for parents to teach their young ones about the importance of responsibility. When adopting a new feline friend from a shelter home, the amount of responsibility taken on can be unequivocally amplified. For this reason, we have done some research to help guide our new pet-owners navigate their way to creating a safe and loving household.
​​
 
1. Be sure to discuss your new pet 
For households with younger children, it is important that they understand that this new animal also has thoughts and feelings - and can behave in ways that we do not always understand. Whilst they may already have the basis such as “don’t pull kitty’s tail” down pat, make sure to discuss your new household member.
 
2. Enforce clear boundaries and interactions with your pet
Whether you settle on fun-sized ball of fluff and energy or a mature-aged cat with wise eyes and a softened heart - in some cases our animals have already endured a rocky road to reach the warm embrace of a new home. For this reason, teaching the children how to interact and look after their new friend is pivotal step in the transitioning to their new environment.
 
3. Encourage recognition of pet’s behaviours and traits 
In addition to setting boundaries, this step is important to teach your child how to recognise times where it might be unsafe to approach their pet. Practice speaking about how your pet may be feeling when they respond or behave in certain ways and urge your child to recognise them too. Dependent on your child’s age, this may also be a perfect time to use animal-specific dialect to educate your child about their pet. For example, teaching them about kitty’s “predator” instincts and  
 
4. Ensure plenty of positive reinforcement 
Just as you may when training your new family pet, don’t forget to give praise for gentle and kind interactions with the family pet. By keeping the experience of interaction light and joyful, your child is more likely to develop a more nurturing relationship with the pet.  
 
5. Find a way for the two to create a bond.  
The friendship between a child and a furry friend can be one of the most rewarding experience in both of their lives. According to Batter Sea, a great way to encourage bonding is to practice non-physical forms of interactions such as playing with cat toys or basic training.
 
Most parents will understand the sometimes frightening joy of the uncontrollable and unexpected moments in their daily lives. IWhilst there are certain to be bumps and jumps along the way, what you are most likely to find at the end of the path is unwavering bond between your children - both fur and no-fur. So, what are you waiting for? We have a number of cats just waiting to be snatched up by a new loving family at any time - you can find them here.


Picture from Unsplash.
Written by Gabrielle Bott-Banas for FFRAQ

​You really want a kitten don’t you? You’re not alone. In 2015, it was discovered that adult cats are less popular among RSPCA adopters compared to kittens. Fortunately, they also 
learned that ‘a similar percentage of cats and kittens … [had been] adopted’ between 2018-2019. It’s a good sign, but it can it always be better. To make sure this happens, here are a few reasons for why you shouldn’t rule out adopting adult cats.  

​As adult cats are already fully developed, the likelihood of you having to deal with behavioural problems is reduced. The AWL credits adult cats with ‘understand[ing] how a home works.’ They are highly likely to have already been domesticated, which means they have an easier time adjusting to new surroundings. They will know not to scratch or bite you, your family or your furniture. This means less hand raising for you, and more time cuddling with your new friend on the couch. 

Their adaptable nature means that adult cats are independent animals who value space. While you go about your life, they’ll keep themselves entertained (leaving a toy for them certainly wouldn’t hurt) by sleeping, exploring and even hoarding! After a long day out, come home and you’ll see them watching you from a window. Did Mittens climb up the curtains and tear through them? Of course not! She was laying around, grooming herself and patiently waiting for you to return. ​

​From 2019-2020, less than 2500 of the 45,364 cats admitted to the RSPCA had been reclaimed. While animals find themselves in shelters for a number of reasons (being surrendered or abandoned being the most common), many of them are perfectly fine. Perhaps they had wandered too far from home and were taken by rangers? Whatever the case, the main reason for why you should adopt an adult cat is the simplest one of all… you are giving them a second chance at life. 

Written by Matthew Leong for FFARQ.