15/6/2021 While the group may have been a bit quiet over the last few months, things have been slowly ticking along in the background. As much as we are aware of the dangers of roaming cats and stricter laws are in place, there are still hundreds of cats and especially unsterilized cats in our region still being abandoned or becoming strays each year. It is clear that not enough education is available locally.
Seeing this very important niche that needed to be filled, Chair Lucia Quearry and Coordinator Jenni Loveland have devoted many hours applying for a State NRM Grant to help the group move forward into next year and maintain momentum. Overview of the three-year grant, “Education for best-practice cat management to decrease impacts on biodiversity”, would run from January 2022-December 2024.
If successful, the grant will help to conserve our biodiversity, by increasing public awareness in Albany and surrounding areas focusing on cat issues.
The Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group (A&SFCWG) will collaborate with local stakeholders to:
Raise awareness of best practice cat responsibility, including early de-sexing and containment, through responsible cat ownership presentations to school and TAFE students, community groups, Shire staff and conservation organisations. This not only protects the local wildlife but also decreases roaming cats’ exposure to the dangers from the outside world.
Static displays will be erected in libraries and shopping centres, Shire reception and museums with stalls at local market days and shows of posters and information.
To gain a better understanding of why barn/farm/shed cats are used, how we can help and how we could encourage a reduction in numbers and responsible ownership.
Review original goals for the group and plan for the future of the group.
With this grant, we are aiming for a better-informed community working towards achieving sustainable conservation and biodiversity values focusing on the values of our Mission statement.
“A collaboration of organisations and individuals focusing on the conservation of native wildlife through a coordinated approach to undertaking best-practice feral cat control, addressing the stray cat population issues and promoting responsible pet ownership.” For more information or to keep up to date. Please follow the Facebook page www.facebook.com/notoferalcats or email [email protected] or webpage www.ohcg.org.au/cats-feral-stray-and-domestic.html
Jenni Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group