Why Desex?
Furry Friends Animal Rescue firmly advocates for the desexing of domestic pets. Along with microchipping, it is the single most humane thing we can do for the cat population in Australia.
Overbreeding
Many Australians are unaware of the huge impact non-desexed animals have on our society. Unchecked breeding of domestic pets results in unwanted litters of kittens within our community. These kittens are the undesirables. They face a dismal future.
A female cat, can produce around 200 kittens in her lifetime. By the time each female kitten is 4 months old, it too can start to reproduce. Can you see how quickly one cat can cause an explosion in cat numbers?
Many of these animals are not a desirable colour or breed. They will never find homes. Through no fault of their own, these pets stare down the barrel of a gun. They will be put to sleep. One simple operation can save a miserable existence for so many.
A female cat, can produce around 200 kittens in her lifetime. By the time each female kitten is 4 months old, it too can start to reproduce. Can you see how quickly one cat can cause an explosion in cat numbers?
Many of these animals are not a desirable colour or breed. They will never find homes. Through no fault of their own, these pets stare down the barrel of a gun. They will be put to sleep. One simple operation can save a miserable existence for so many.
Overflowing Shelters
Stray pets are those that have been lost or abandoned who cannot find domestic homes. Shelters across Australia are full to overflowing with strays. Many Councils are struggling to cope with an ever increasing problem. Many shelters only need to wait a mandatory few days for reclaim before they euthanise.
The Feral Problem
A stray domestic cat can breed in the wild, generating feral offspring. Feral cats are the same species as our domestic felines. Their only difference is a lack of human interaction.
In 2015, feral cats were declared a pest. There are an estimated 2-6 million feral cats and the Australian government is having to implement eradication schemes in order to address the problem. They are the number one extinction threat to many of our precious native species. They spread diseases such as toxoplasmosis and sarcosporidiosis and are a danger to people who come into contact with them.
They impact farms, wildlife and the environment. In 2011, Pest Smart declared that feral cats pose "no positive economic value". For example, "the loss inflicted by feral and domestic cats, based on bird predation alone, has been estimated at $144 million annually."
It's easy for us cat lovers to be sentimental about the cute fluff balls that tiptoe around our homes...but these stray and feral cats survive at the expense of the fauna that has a right to live on this continent. It's controversial...but introduced species need to be closely guarded in any environment.
In 2015, feral cats were declared a pest. There are an estimated 2-6 million feral cats and the Australian government is having to implement eradication schemes in order to address the problem. They are the number one extinction threat to many of our precious native species. They spread diseases such as toxoplasmosis and sarcosporidiosis and are a danger to people who come into contact with them.
They impact farms, wildlife and the environment. In 2011, Pest Smart declared that feral cats pose "no positive economic value". For example, "the loss inflicted by feral and domestic cats, based on bird predation alone, has been estimated at $144 million annually."
It's easy for us cat lovers to be sentimental about the cute fluff balls that tiptoe around our homes...but these stray and feral cats survive at the expense of the fauna that has a right to live on this continent. It's controversial...but introduced species need to be closely guarded in any environment.
Act Responsibly
Furry Friends Animal Rescue believes in responsible pet ownership. It's easy to blame the organisations dealing with the end consequences of the problem, but they are trying to handle an impossible and horrible situation.
Whereas, it's the START of the problem that needs to be addressed. It is pet owners who are responsible for the overbreeding of cats, as too many do not desex their cats. Whether that's down to a lack of education about desexing, or fear of a high cost to desex, not enough pet owners get their pets desexed, and so many innocent animals suffer because of it.
In 2010 Sydney Morning Herald reported “MORE than a quarter of a million healthy cats and dogs are destroyed in Australia every year because there are not enough homes for them.”
In RSPCA’s latest statistics (2019-20 Financial Year), 9,714 cats were euthanised.
Desexing Facts:
1. Both male and female cats need to be desexed.
2. Cats should be desexed at 5-6 months (same time as puberty).
3. A short resting time indoors is required after the operation.
Whereas, it's the START of the problem that needs to be addressed. It is pet owners who are responsible for the overbreeding of cats, as too many do not desex their cats. Whether that's down to a lack of education about desexing, or fear of a high cost to desex, not enough pet owners get their pets desexed, and so many innocent animals suffer because of it.
In 2010 Sydney Morning Herald reported “MORE than a quarter of a million healthy cats and dogs are destroyed in Australia every year because there are not enough homes for them.”
In RSPCA’s latest statistics (2019-20 Financial Year), 9,714 cats were euthanised.
Desexing Facts:
1. Both male and female cats need to be desexed.
2. Cats should be desexed at 5-6 months (same time as puberty).
3. A short resting time indoors is required after the operation.
Our Community Pays
The cost of catching, containing and then euthanising all those animals is huge. All the tax payer money that goes into dealing with the population of unwanted animals in Australia would surely be better placed in schools or roads or hospital care or elderly support. All it takes is more responsible pet ownership. Simple.
