Albany and Surrounds Feral Cat Working Group (ASFCWG), is making a few big changes. As we have grown and adjusted, we have gained more understanding of what space we are of best use in the community. We have learned so much from the public and organisations and have found that one big area needing to be addressed is in roaming cat education.
We decided that it was time to change our name to better reflect who we are and what we do. While our old name served its purpose it was time for a fresh start and a fresh, new name. With many an idea, we finally decided upon the catchy and much more appropriate CLAWS Working Group (Cat Laws and Wildlife Survival).
While we were at it, a new website sounded like a great idea, an individual one dedicated to cats and how we can improve the lives of wildlife and cats by keeping cats contained. https://sites.google.com/view/clawsworkinggroup/home
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There are helpful hints and stories about how to improve the life of your indoor cats and links to some other great sites. We also have a page for feral cats and other interesting bits and pieces. We will still keep this page updated but head to the new page for a look.
CLAWS tries to foster learning in a fun and positive way, we have numerous educational programs that we get very excited about showing off regularly. Some of these include,
· Primary school incursions enthusing kids on local wildlife and cat containment
· Workshops for residents on keeping cats healthy and happy contained to a property
· Presentations to groups on the damage roaming cats pose to wildlife
· Stall displays at numerous events and shows
· Lobbying to improve cat containment and better feral control and more
We are continuing to interact with other organisations that have any involvement in roaming cats, including, The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Local Government, Landcare groups, residents, and veterinary and animal care establishments to name a few.
If wildlife could talk, I am sure they would be thanking all those responsible cat owners who are keeping their pets contained and sterilising their fluffy family members. We know there is a long way to go, local laws review and reduction of other roaming cats for a start, but we look forward to helping other owners transition their cats into appropriate enclosed housing and reducing those unowned cats from roaming. While we currently have no role in actively reducing roaming feral cats, we do encourage control through the correct legal avenues and most of it is imperative that control is humane.
Follow the blog to see what is happening in the group.
CLAWS tries to foster learning in a fun and positive way, we have numerous educational programs that we get very excited about showing off regularly. Some of these include,
· Primary school incursions enthusing kids on local wildlife and cat containment
· Workshops for residents on keeping cats healthy and happy contained to a property
· Presentations to groups on the damage roaming cats pose to wildlife
· Stall displays at numerous events and shows
· Lobbying to improve cat containment and better feral control and more
We are continuing to interact with other organisations that have any involvement in roaming cats, including, The Department of Biodiversity, Conservation and Attractions, Local Government, Landcare groups, residents, and veterinary and animal care establishments to name a few.
If wildlife could talk, I am sure they would be thanking all those responsible cat owners who are keeping their pets contained and sterilising their fluffy family members. We know there is a long way to go, local laws review and reduction of other roaming cats for a start, but we look forward to helping other owners transition their cats into appropriate enclosed housing and reducing those unowned cats from roaming. While we currently have no role in actively reducing roaming feral cats, we do encourage control through the correct legal avenues and most of it is imperative that control is humane.
Follow the blog to see what is happening in the group.
We would love to hear your suggestions so feel free to contact us on the new email address. [email protected]
We look forward to sharing tips and interesting stories with you.
Jenni Loveland - Founder and Project Officer
We look forward to sharing tips and interesting stories with you.
Jenni Loveland - Founder and Project Officer
CLAWS,
Relative Collaboration Reference map
Our current project:
Education for best-practice cat management to decrease impacts on biodiversity-
Protecting Potoroos and their Native Neighbours.
Is being implemented in the Two Peoples Bay/Manypeaks/Waychinicup region. This area is highly significant to residents, tourists, the scientific community, and the Minang Traditional Owners. Two famous endemic and threatened fauna species live exclusively in the area, the Gilbert’s Potoroo and Noisy Scrub Bird, as well as significant populations of Quokka, Western Ringtail Possum, Western Bristlebird, and Australasian Bittern. In addition, there are many other threatened fauna species with significant populations in this area
One of the main threats to these "bite-sized" species is that of roaming cats. We will work in the community with Two Peoples Bay/Manypeaks/Waychinicup residents, Noongar groups, school children, and the general public to encourage sustainable social change. We will foster the benefits to cats by keeping them safely contained to your property; discovering barriers and opportunities for feral control; providing education to the community about how to protect the special biodiversity of this unique region, and keeping the community updated on the feral and invasive species happenings in this area.
We Thank the Oyster Harbour Catchment for sponsoring us in this endeavor and State Natural Resource Management for funding this grant.
See blog for more detailed project information. https://www.ohcg.org.au/albany-and-surrounds-cat-blog.html
Education for best-practice cat management to decrease impacts on biodiversity-
Protecting Potoroos and their Native Neighbours.
Is being implemented in the Two Peoples Bay/Manypeaks/Waychinicup region. This area is highly significant to residents, tourists, the scientific community, and the Minang Traditional Owners. Two famous endemic and threatened fauna species live exclusively in the area, the Gilbert’s Potoroo and Noisy Scrub Bird, as well as significant populations of Quokka, Western Ringtail Possum, Western Bristlebird, and Australasian Bittern. In addition, there are many other threatened fauna species with significant populations in this area
One of the main threats to these "bite-sized" species is that of roaming cats. We will work in the community with Two Peoples Bay/Manypeaks/Waychinicup residents, Noongar groups, school children, and the general public to encourage sustainable social change. We will foster the benefits to cats by keeping them safely contained to your property; discovering barriers and opportunities for feral control; providing education to the community about how to protect the special biodiversity of this unique region, and keeping the community updated on the feral and invasive species happenings in this area.
We Thank the Oyster Harbour Catchment for sponsoring us in this endeavor and State Natural Resource Management for funding this grant.
See blog for more detailed project information. https://www.ohcg.org.au/albany-and-surrounds-cat-blog.html
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The group has published an educational brochure:
Please feel free to print and distribute wherever an impact can be made. Click here to print Feral cat information sources
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For more information on keeping your cat healthy and happy at home follow the below links.
Cat owner education program http://www.southwestgroup.com.au/natural-resource-management/happyathome/
That's Cats video series https://www.tassiecat.com/videos
International cat care- https://icatcare.org/
Feline behavior solutions - https://felinebehaviorsolutions.com/
RSPCA safe happy cats - https://www.rspca.org.au/adopt-pet/adopting-catkitten/safe-and-happy-cats
Don’t let them out: 15 ways to keep your indoor cat happy- https://theconversation.com/dont-let-them-out-15-ways-to-keep-your-indoor-cat-happy-138716
Adaptation of domestic cats to confinement www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787807002274?casa_token=vLZRglQQDGYAAAAA:tvmxbGNJrJmeexRsTTYjnZ3SvDrWt-FdRXGO4ShoTevZoIrHO6XOei6xae_iPELLS7_2uPZHnUm
Cat owner education program http://www.southwestgroup.com.au/natural-resource-management/happyathome/
That's Cats video series https://www.tassiecat.com/videos
International cat care- https://icatcare.org/
Feline behavior solutions - https://felinebehaviorsolutions.com/
RSPCA safe happy cats - https://www.rspca.org.au/adopt-pet/adopting-catkitten/safe-and-happy-cats
Don’t let them out: 15 ways to keep your indoor cat happy- https://theconversation.com/dont-let-them-out-15-ways-to-keep-your-indoor-cat-happy-138716
Adaptation of domestic cats to confinement www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1558787807002274?casa_token=vLZRglQQDGYAAAAA:tvmxbGNJrJmeexRsTTYjnZ3SvDrWt-FdRXGO4ShoTevZoIrHO6XOei6xae_iPELLS7_2uPZHnUm
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Engage with us online by liking and following us on social media
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We acknowledge the Minang and Koreng people as the traditional custodians of the land on which we work and live. We pay our respects to the Elders, past, present, and emerging and to the wider Noongar community.
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Sponsors and Supporters |
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