Friday 1 December 2017

Christmas Bells + Kitty = Joy to the World

Roughly half of Australia’s cats are pets, and they also take a considerable toll on wildlife. Cat’s kill more than one million birds every day across Australia, roughly 3-4% of our birds each year.

While recognising the many benefits of pet ownership, we also need to work to reduce the detrimental impacts. Fortunately, there is increasing public awareness of the benefits of not letting pet cats roam freely. These include cats less likely to run away, get into fights or get injured and reduced territorial behaviour such as spraying or looking for

a mate.

By being responsible pet owners and using predator-deterrent tools such as such as bells and collars, cat owners can help to look after the birds in their own and neighbours backyards and local bushland, and hence contribute to conserving Australia’s unique wildlife.

The Progress Association has a remote camera that is easy to use and available for loan to members to photograph which animals are visiting your backyard. You may find some neighbourly possums or your neighbour’s cats. The first loan yielded some interesting images. “ I’ve spent 25 years creating habitat for the local wildlife in my backyard so it was great to see the possums at my place but really distressing to see the cats, one of which visits several times every day and night. The camera was really helpful in explaining the mystery growls, cat fights and death squeals ”

The images may help to identify a nuisance cat which is defined as one that
  • makes persistent noise that occurs or continues to such a degree that it interferes with the peace and comfort of any person in any other premises 
  • repeatedly damages property of others. 
If a nuisance cat affects you, Lake Mac recommends the following actions:
  • talk to the neighbour, they may not realise their angel is creating a bother 
  • drop them a polite letter if you can’t have a conversation 
  • contact the Community Justice Centre to get mediation 
  • apply for a nuisance order 

More information on LakeMac’s web www.lakemac.com.au/council/report-an-issue/nuisance-dogs-and-cats

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