What is panleukopenia?  Feline Panleukopenia (FPV), also known as feline parvovirus, is a highly contagious virus. It is similar and closely related to parvovirus in dogs. However, dogs can’t catch it from cats. What are signs of panleukopenia?   Common signs of infection include very low energy, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, and (sometimes bloody) diarrhoea. Diarrhoea can range from mild to potentially life-threatening, which is why it’s important to monitor your cat and seek urgent veterinary treatment if you observe your pet presenting with any of the symptoms above. The incubation period is between two and 14 days. This is the time frame between the cat’s contact with the virus and the appearance of clinical signs. Cats can shed the virus into the environment two to three days before they show symptoms. This means infected cats can infect others before they show signs that they are sick. Symptoms of the virus (see above) are usually visible five to seven…

RSPCA NSW is teaming up with Happy Staffy Co this May to help find homes for staffies ready for adoption.   Over the last 12 months, over 400 staffies have been successfully adopted from RSPCA NSW shelters and found their happy ever after.  Staffies are one of the most popular dog breeds in Australia due to their loyal nature and love for people.    Sadly, a number do end up in RSPCA NSW shelters for a range of reasons and unfortunately some staffies can end up waiting far too long for their forever homes.   Ghost is one of our current staffies available for adoption and he has been waiting over 500 days for his forever home. The five-year-old is described as an affectionate goofball with a real love of toys and being able to stretch out in the sun or on the sofa.   Wilson is another staffy that has been at RSPCA NSW for hundreds of days now and patiently waiting for the right person to come along. While the 10-year-old is missing a leg, he’s still got so much love to give and just needs the right home to call his own.   As with any…

A Project Update: Supporting Safe-at-Home Cats Across NSW 🐾  As the Keeping Cats Safe at Home program continues to grow, it’s become increasingly clear that making life safer for cats doesn’t happen overnight. Though not wholly unexpected, our project has proven that change is a lengthy, but worthwhile, process. One that starts with small commitments, practical support, and empowering people to feel confident to do things a little differently.  Just this last month alone has proven how powerful this process can be. Whether it’s a cat being desexed, a carer learning how to manage a small colony, or a family exploring ways to keep their cat safely at home, these moments all pave the road to lasting change for cats across NSW.  Building the Foundations for Safe-at-Home Cats  A safe-at-home lifestyle looks different for every cat and every household. For some, it starts with desexing. For others, it’s about enrichment, transitioning to spending more time indoors, or simply understanding what their cat needs to feel safe and stimulated at home.  Across NSW, we’ve now supported the desexing of 5,211 cats, reaching 61% of our 8,500 overall project desexing target, with several councils already meeting or…

Transitioning Your Cat to a Safe-at-Home Lifestyle  Keeping your cat safe at home is one of the most effective ways to protect their health, safety, and overall wellbeing. A “safe-at-home” lifestyle means preventing your cat from roaming freely  while still meeting all their needs within a secure environment: this means meeting their physical and behavioural needs while keeping them entirely indoors or while providing them with safe outdoor access through the use of limited enrichment spaces like a catio or enclosed yard.  There are significant benefits to getting your cat used to the safe-at-home lifestyle. Cats kept safe at home live, on average, up to 10 years longer than cats allowed to roam. This is because roaming cats regularly face risks to their physical wellbeing, from road accidents and dog attacks to disease, getting lost, or fights with other cats. In fact, 2 in 3 cat owners have reported losing a cat to a roaming-related incident.  The idea of keeping your cat at home can feel like a big change, especially if your cat is used to going outside. But, with the right planning, setup, and patience, most cats can successfully adopt a safe-at-home lifestyle and go on to live happy,…