The Lions Club of Clarence – Environmental are launching a cat campaign designed to protect the extraordinary biodiversity of the valley and allow cat owners to enjoy their pets and keep them safe.
President Barbara Linley said the club is working in a positive way with Clarence Valley Council and the community on the campaign to bring about change, protect our native species, and keep cats safe at home.
Ms Linley said the club have developed an information pamphlet for the public which will be available at the campaign launch at the Yamba Farmers Market on March 15.
“The campaign is designed to make people aware of what their cats are doing when they are out of their home, and it’s feral cats as well as domestic cats,” she said.
“By keeping your cat at home, you are ensuring its welfare and well-being, as cats that live at home can live up to 10 years longer than cats that roam.
“We have a four-page pamphlet that we have produced, and the council have produced a one-page pamphlet that they are putting with ours.”
The new cat campaign follows the successful work the group has done with council and the community on the endangered coastal emu population.
Ms Linley said laws that apply to all other domesticated animals in Australia don’t apply to cats.
“Cats are the only animal that is allowed to legally roam, every other animal has to be behind fences,” she said.
“A lot of organisations including the RSPCA are looking to see if that can be changed.
“Many people don’t think cats eat native animals during the day but that’s when our reptiles are out.
“There is now ample evidence to show cats catch natives during the day”.”
As a result, Ms Linley said Adelaide Hills Council in South Australia and Victoria’s Knox City Council brought in 24-hour cat containment laws last year to protect their biodiversity and there are plans by several other councils to introduce the same restrictions this year.
As part of the campaign, Ms Linley said since last year the group have been doing surveys with the community at local markets to gauge their feelings about cats.
Ms Linley said cats carry diseases that are harmful to both native species and humans.
“Cats can carry Toxoplasma gondii, a parasite that causes birth defects, miscarriages and death in people with weakened immune systems,” she said.
“We will also be asking council to start to look at things like having free cat castration days, let’s make it cheaper for people to desex their cat because cats are prolific breeders.”
Australia has an estimated cat population of more than 8 million, Ms Linley said, with research showing that every roaming cat on average kills 40 native reptiles, 38 native birds and 32 native mammals a year.
“Caring for cats’ means being kept safe, always at home under your guidance and care,” she said.
“If all domesticated animals are kept on their owner’s property, it’s a win win situation where people are caring for their animals and caring for nature.”
Ms Linley said the community is welcome to the campaign launch at the Yamba Farmers Market.
This article appeared in the Clarence Valley Independent, 15 March 2023.
