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Julie’s Animal Refuge in Kaipara Flats is offering significantly discounted de-sexing for cats until the end of October.
Manager Julie Thompson says the refuge is trying to target households that might not have been able to afford to have it done.
“De-sexing a female kitten costs between $100 and $150, which can be a lot for a family. They might have had the best intentions, but it lands in the too hard basket.”
Julie’s Animal Refuge will perform the operation for $20.
As spring arrives and cats come into heat, Julie says that education is also an important component of the campaign to prevent high numbers of unwanted kittens.
If residents see strays in their backyard it can be tempting to feed them, but the cats need to be caught, rescued and de-sexed so that their numbers do not increase.
Julie also discourages giving away unwanted kittens through Facebook, as cats are increasingly being used as bait for dogs.
“The person that arrives to pick up the kitten may look presentable, but these cats are commonly being used in dog fighting rings.”
She says owners who receive free cats are also less likely to de-sex them, which perpetuates problems.
Julie adds that a ‘throwaway culture’ in society has contributed to households believing they can just get rid of their kittens each year.
“At Christmas, people go away on holiday and they realise they don’t want their kittens and they dump them somewhere during the night in the bush.”
She says this contributes to the problem of cats killing native species. Cats are blamed for this when, in reality, it is the fault of irresponsible humans.
“People also think that they can just turn cats loose and they will survive by eating rodents, but actually the few that survive are found starving and dehydrated.”
The refuge will often get calls from people who say a group of stray kittens has taken residence underneath their house or in a vacant structure.
Around 700 cats a year pass through the refuge’s doors, and it can handle 100 cats at a time through its shelter and temporary foster homes.
Last time Julie organised the discount programme in 2016 around 300 cats took up the offer.
If you live in the Warkworth-Wellsford area, you can contact Julie’s Animal Refuge on 422 3322 to make an appointment to have your cat de-sexed.
