Cash for cat desexing

GRANTS of up to $25,000 are available to Victorian councils to boost cat desexing rates.

A feline vaccine shortage in the last year has left the cat population vulnerable. Animal Welfare Victoria has revealed that more than 600 cats were euthanased by The Lost Dogs Home Casey, which provides animal shelter services for Frankston and Kingston councils, in the first six months of 2023 (“Hundreds of animals put down” The Times 8/1/2024).

In a bid to address cat overpopulation, the state government has announced the $25,000 grant program for cat desexing. Animal Welfare Victoria executive director Dr Trevor Pisciotta said “desexing cats helps reduce the burden of overpopulation on Victoria’s domestic animal services.” “Although 95 per cent of registered cats are desexed by the age of two, cats can have multiple litters in this time. This can sadly result in thousands of cats entering the Victorian pound and shelter system each year”, Dr Pisciotta said. “Supporting local councils to provide free or low-cost desexing programs will help to manage the overpopulation of cats, while reducing the strain on our state’s animal shelters.

“One of the main reasons people don’t desex their pets is because they can’t afford it. These grants make cat desexing more accessible for vulnerable community members. By specifically targeting semi-owned cats and addressing problem cat populations, the program also focuses on a group of cats often overlooked by desexing programs.”

For more information or to apply visit agriculture.vic.gov.au/livestock-and-animals/animal-welfare-victoria/cats/cat-management-initiatives/targeted-cat-desexing-program

First published in the Frankston Times – 12th March 2024