You can adopt a cat or kitten this weekend for just $29 to help ease pressure on Victorian animal shelters
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26.07.2022

You can adopt a cat or kitten this weekend for just $29 to help ease pressure on Victorian animal shelters

With over 600 cats and kittens in care, the RSPCA need to ease pressure on their shelters across the state.

If you’re feeling a little lonely and have been considering a companion (or you want to earn brownie points as the best partner ever), now might be the perfect time to act.

The RSPCA, along with participating Petbarn stores, is running its biggest ever adoption drive this weekend in a mission to clear its shelters across the country.

Currently operating at capacity, RSPCA Victoria shelters are caring for 1,063 animals, including 675 cats and kittens. In comparison, last year at the same time there were 856 animals in care including 405 cats and kittens, and adoptions were booming with people welcoming a new pet into the family during lockdowns, which meant animals were being adopted faster.

Adoption Locations

  • RSPCA Victoria animal adoption locations: Burwood East, Peninsula, Epping Animal Welfare Facility, Warrnambool and Wangaratta.
  • Participating Petbarn stores: Box Hill, Caroline Springs, Chadstone, Chirnside Park, Coburg, Craigieburn, Eltham, Ferntree Gully, Fountain Gate, Frankston, Hoppers Crossing, Kangaroo Flat, Malvern, Maribyrnong, Mentone, Narre Warren, Nunawading, Preston, Ringwood, South Morang, South Yarra, Sunbury, Warragul and Waurn Ponds.

Stay up to date with what’s happening in and around the region here

From Saturday, July 30 to Sunday, July 31 this week, all adoption fees of cats and kittens will be lowered to just $29, to help find loving forever homes for as many cats and kittens as possible to make way for incoming animals who also require care and rehoming.

Potential adopters can visit their local RSPCA shelter or participating Petbarn stores without an appointment (though they are encouraged and can be made here) during the two-day ‘Capacity’ campaign, and for just $29, all cats and kittens come microchipped, desexed, vaccinated, and behaviour and health checked – costs that usually come on top of an adoption.

Rehabilitation and Adoption Manager at RSPCA Victoria, Dr Rupert Baker, said that online applications for pets have slowed recently, and with the high number of cats in care, this has created additional pressure to find new homes for as many cats as possible.

“We are currently seeing what we believe is a delayed response to the pandemic. We are caring for a high number of animals at the moment, specifically cats, due to a number of reasons including larger numbers of animals surrendered to our Inspectorate and fewer people adopting as they make the most of being able to travel.”

“More cats are coming to us through councils and there has been fewer reclaims of lost and straying cats by their owners, which means our capacity to care for more animals is greatly impacted.”

“To make sure we can rehabilitate more animals we need people to adopt cats from us,” said Dr Baker. “If compassionate people adopt a cat from us now, they will be helping that individual animal and helping us care for other animals in need.”

 

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Dr Baker said that despite the low adoption prices, the experienced RSPCA staff will follow the same careful process to ensure every adoption placement is the right decision for the animal and their new owner.

“Our adoptions staff will make sure to understand a potential adopter’s lifestyle and match them with a cat to ensure a long and happy life match.”

RSPCA Victoria cares for over 9,000 cats and kittens across its five shelters every year. Adoption promotions help those considering pet adoption to make the decision at the right time.

We know you can’t put a price on the happiness a new four-legged friend will bring, but it’s hoped that the low adoption fee will encourage people who have been thinking about adding a pet to their fam (and have considered it thoroughly) to make the commitment this week.

Animals will be available at the reduced adoption fee from all RSPCA Animal Care Centres in Victoria and participating Petbarn stores including Waurn Ponds and a bunch of Melbourne locations. Until then, have a squizz at all the adorable animals here.