Celebrating Success: 382 Cats Desexed and a Brighter Future for Felines in Parramatta

We are thrilled to share some extraordinary news about our efforts in the Parramatta region, where we have successfully desexed 382 cats over the past two years through our Parramatta StrayCare initiative. This marked an important step in our Keeping Cats Safe at Home campaign.

Our success has been made possible through our collaborative partnerships with the City of Parramatta Council, Ermington Vets, and dedicated local rescue groups. Together, we’ve carefully targeted our desexing program toward those who care for unowned cats and individuals who might feel overwhelmed by multiple feline companions. By offering support to these community members, we ensure that every cat has the chance for a safe and healthy life.

The impact of this initiative has exceeded all our expectations. After just one year of implementing our desexing efforts, the intake at the council’s pound saw a remarkable decrease of 33%. Fast forward to the end of the second year, and we are proud to report an astonishing 73% reduction in pound intake. This positive trend reflects our collective commitment to education and addressing the issue of stray cats head-on.

On top of this there has been a significant drop-in cat euthanasia rates within the same timeframe. In the first year alone, we witnessed a staggering 92% decrease in cat euthanasia in Parramatta, and after the second year, this rate has plummeted by an incredible 98%. To put this into perspective, only three cats were euthanised last year compared to 145 in the fiscal year 2018-19. This transformation highlights not just the effectiveness of our program but also the commitment of the City of Parramatta Council to ensuring better outcomes for cats in their care.

We would like to extend our heartfelt gratitude to everyone involved in this initiative—our partners at the City of Parramatta Council, the compassionate team at Ermington Vets, and the numerous local rescue groups whose tireless work has made a significant difference for these animals. With this collaborative spirit, we can continue to push for change.

As we move forward, RSPCA NSW remains committed to promoting effective and humane management of unowned (or “stray”) cats, promoting desexing, and fostering a community that values the well-being and protects the welfare of all cats.