Residents from across Ferntree Gully and surrounding suburbs are encouraged to head down to their local Petbarn this weekend to consider adopting a cat or kitten.
With RSPCA Victoria facilities struggling to keep up with the demand of cats and kittens coming into its care, the organisation will limit the cost of adopting to $29 for 30 and 31 July throughout its CatPacity promotion.
Aiming to ease the pressure on the system that is currently caring for 1,063 animals, including 675 cats and kittens, RSPCA Victoria has partnered with Petbarn stores to enable more people to adopt.
This time last year adoptions were booming because of the pandemic lockdowns, meaning only 856 animals were in care including 405 cats and kittens.
RSPCA Victoria Rehabilitation and Adoption Manager Dr Rupert Baker said online applications for pets have slowed recently and with the high number of cats in care, this has created additional pressure to find new homes for as many cats as possible.
“We are currently seeing what we believe is a delayed response to the pandemic. We are caring for a high number of animals at the moment, specifically cats, due to a number of reasons including larger numbers of animals surrendered to our Inspectorate and fewer people adopting as they make the most of being able to travel,” he said.
Dr Baker also said RSPCA is seeing more cats are coming into care from local councils, with fewer reclaims of lost and straying cats being made by their owners.
“To make sure we can rehabilitate more animals we need people to adopt cats from us,” Dr Baker said.
“If compassionate people adopt a cat from us now, they will be helping that individual animal and helping us care for other animals in need.”
RSPCA Victoria is urging anyone considering cat adoption to make the most of the CatPacity promotion and visit the website to view the cats who are ready to find a new home. While walk-in appointments are welcome, they are subject to availability, so people are encouraged to make an appointment online at https://rspcavic.org/catpacity
All cats and kittens come microchipped, desexed, vaccinated, and behaviour and health checked.
Dr Baker said despite the low adoption prices, the experienced RSPCA staff will follow the same careful process to ensure every adoption placement is the right decision for the animal and their new owner.
“Our adoptions staff will make sure to understand a potential adopter’s lifestyle and match them with a cat to ensure a long and happy life match.”
Participating Petbarn stores include Chirnside Park, Ringwood and Ferntree Gully or residents can head to RSPCA Burwood.
