CAT lovers across the South West have welcomed WA’s Cat Act grant of $3 million announced by the state government last week.
The grants will help to extend and provide cat management facilities as well as providing low-cost sterlisation to low income earners.
Animal welfare SAFE Bunbury worker Sarah Melman said every week someone in Bunbury surrenders a cat because they can not look after them.
“Only just recently we have had a mum cat and her two kittens, their owners obviously didn't sterilise, and they are riddled with ringworm so badly that they've had to be shaved and bathed every day,” Ms Melman said.
“Some cases we get are so bad we have to put them down.”
Bunbury woman Katie Tarnowy said this plan will help save endangered natives in Bunbury.
“Given the millions of native Australian animals that are killed every night (an average feed is seven small natives per cat, per night) by feral cats, I say definitely,” Ms Tarnowy said.
“Unfortunately it is not the responsible cat owners that this management plan needs to target, but it's a good start.”
The funding is designed to assist local governments and the community prepare for the cat legislation, aimed at reducing the high proportion of stray cats in Western Australia.
The grant will help cover cat management facilities, implentation costs of microchips and cat traps and sterlisation programs to support pensioners and low income earners.
Bunbury MLA John Castrilli said he encouraged local governments to work with non-government organisations to develop shared facilities.
“Local governments may be able to work with organisations like vet surgeries or catteries to enhance the facilities already in place within a district, such as increasing the number of cages available,” he said.
Applications for implementation grants close October 26 and are available from www.dlg.wa.gov.au