Early warming causes disaster Kitten onslaught

Early warming causes disaster Kitten onslaught

Animal Group "CatRescue" has begun receiving it’s first loads of baby abandoned kittens in the lead up to a disastrous breeding season.

Breeding season occurs annually with the warmer seasons, and tens of thousands of animals start the mating cycle.

A side effect of climate change, early heat waves meant earlier breeding, which gives mothers the chance to have multiple litters in this season, doubling the problem.

"In the next few months, tens of thousands of cats will be born in alleyways, bedrooms, garages and drains around Australia" said Derek Knox, Carer at CatRescue

"It’s pretty simple, every undesexed outdoor female will be pregnant, it’s virtually guaranteed. Our phones have been running all day"

Breeding season means thousands of unwanted animals will soon fill up pounds and shelters. Every year over 200000 animals are put to death in shelters simply as there is not enough homes, with the cost to the Australian Taxpayer an estimated $100m+

"People who have not bothered to desex cats are suddenly finding themselves with a heavily pregnant mother or a litter of new born kittens in the bedroom"

The general public is becoming more aware of the acute nature of the problem, with campaigns to introduce mandatory desexing driving strong change in each state

"Anyone who objects to mandatory desexing should spend a day at a pound, it’s hell for the workers and the animals"

Council, Rangers and the Welfare groups are largely left to clean up, with many owners dumping animals in shelters, on the street or in the bin.

Readers can help CatRescue by visiting www.catrescue.com.au and learning about their programs.

"It only takes a small amount of effort to find a home for a cat rather than dumping, and it's a miracle we see every day"

Attachment - "Ranga" - the first kitten of the new season, named after a character in the ABC's "Summer Heights High" CatRescue is a registered charity, an australian network of carers and vets who offer up our own homes to rehome neglected and abandoned animals. CatRescue work closely with council and community and rely solely on goodwill, hard work & donations, everyone is welcome at CatRescue.