NEWTOWN: A month or so ago, you may have been given a cat as a Christmas gift. There is a great deal of responsibility that comes with having a furry life companion, and you may find yourself unable to care for this cat. If so, I’d like to tell you about a place you can take the cat to ensure it will be safe and looked after – rather than dumping it in the dark.
The Cat Protection Society (CPS) is an organisation for cats and kittens in need. Most of the workers are volunteers, which means they aren’t paid money for their work, but they are paid in the wonderful experiences they have with the cats and through the pleasure they get from opening up opportunities for cats that need support. All profits go towards the young kittens and cats, so that they can have a better life.
The CPS is located in Newtown and people are welcome to adopt a cat or kitten, or even just to go there for a look and to play with the kittens. Because the society has limited space, it asks foster carers to foster kittens until they are trained and home-ready, after which there should be space for them in the cattery where they can be adopted.
The CPS has an opportunity shop which is run by volunteers – with all money raised supporting the cats in the cattery. There is a wide selection of goods on sale, from clothing, crockery, books, shoes, jewellery, and more. Everyone is welcome, there are some good finds there! Alternatively, people can donate goods to the opportunity shop, which will be sold to customers to further help support the cats in the cattery.
Fostering can be another great way to assist cats and kittens in need and to free up space to allow new kittens to come to CPS for care. Fostering also enables kittens to learn about and grow up in a home. They get used to noises like the radio or the vacuum cleaner, which they wouldn’t hear in the cattery. They also learn how to interact with other pets and humans (including children!) or how to be peaceful with one companion. Foster caring isn’t easy but it’s very rewarding in that you get to know sweet cats and help prepare them to go to their loving forever home – no matter how sad it is to see them go.
Louisa Dyce, assistant editor for the South Sydney Herald, shares her story about being a good cat guardian. “Marlene was a lovely, serious black cat with patches of white. She was my best friend and companion, and despite her health troubles, I was pleased to help her live to 12 years of age. My mother-in-law met Marlene when she was six months old and had a fractured pelvis. The option was to put her to sleep or in a cage for her to rest. After five months, she could walk again and – being the cat she was – she escaped. Marlene was wild for a time, and then gave birth to two kittens. That was when I met her.
I’m thrilled to say that she was a very trusting mother, and would often leave the kittens in my care. She had spinal-cord damage and, as she aged, she became less able to look after herself. So, I took over the job of grooming her – and I had to shave her so that she could remain clean. As she aged, she further deteriorated and I trained her to use nappies, as she became very distressed about dirtying the house. When I introduced her to the nappies, she took to them very quickly.
Marlene was very fierce and loved playing. We knew it was the end when she didn’t want to eat or play anymore. Even with all of this, I was the responsible human and I would label myself as her guardian rather than her owner. Obviously, I loved and adored her, she was my catty companion, and she followed me around the house until she couldn’t walk and I had to carry her. I was lucky that I could form that bond with her; that’s what every cat is really looking forward to with a human.
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www.catprotection.org.au
