Keeping Cats Safe at Home – progress in 2023

As part of our Keeping Cats Safe at Home project, we’ve been working to promote feline safety and reduce the impacts of our cats on wildlife.

Keeping Cats Safe at Home is a four-year human behaviour change project assisted by the NSW Government through its Environmental Trust. As part of the project, we’ve been encouraging cat lovers to have their furbabies desexed, permanently identify and register their cats, and prevent them from roaming outdoors.

We have partnered with 11 NSW councils including Blue Mountains City Council, Byron Shire Council, Campbelltown City Council, City of Parramatta Council, Hornsby Shire Council, Kyogle Council, Northern Beaches City Council, Shoalhaven City Council, Tweed Shire Council, Walgett Shire Council and Weddin Shire Council.

Paul Flint, Regulatory Officer, Walgett Shire Council, and the team from NorthWest Vets.

We are particularly proud of the six key outputs that we’ve developed over the course of the project, many of which include handy resources that feline lovers might want to use:

1 – Our dedicated microsite: rspcansw.org.au/keeping-cats-safe

2 – Informational resources for cat caregivers: rspcansw.org.au/keeping-cats-safe/resources

Resources for cat lovers
Our dedicated cat lovers page, where you’ll find a wealth of resources dedicated to all thing’s cats. We have expert advice on cat care, tips for understanding your feline friend’s behaviour, and valuable information about stray cats. Discover our comprehensive collection of informative articles, carefully selected to help you provide the best care for your beloved cat.

Resources for educator and parents
Our dedicated education page, designed to empower children with the knowledge and skills to become responsible cat caregivers and conservation-conscious citizens. Our mission is to foster a deep understanding of cats and promote their safety, as well as the well-being of our precious wildlife.

3 – Social media marketing campaign, sharing information across Facebook and Instagram

4 – Targeted cat desexing and microchipping programs

5 – Partner packages for vet practices and rehoming organisations

6 – Our informative School Education Package: rspcansw.org.au/keeping-cats-safe/educators-parents

RSPCA NSW Education Officer Jacinta Sillince delivering a Keeping Cats Safe at Home school education visit at Walgett Community College Primary School.

In FY22-23, the Keeping Cats Safe at Home reached more than 2,000,000 social media users. Engagement with, and the overall response to, our social marketing campaign has been overwhelmingly encouraging and positive.

With Keeping Cats Safe at Home, our targeted feline desexing programs have been more impactful than ever before. More than 1,500 cats – most of whom started life as unowned strays – have been desexed thanks to the help of more than 25 veterinary practices. These programs have resulted in substantial reductions in the number of impounded cats in addition to a reduction in cat-related nuisance complaints made to participating councils.

As we move forward into 2024, we are excited to continue our efforts and build upon the success of this campaign. By working together and staying committed to our mission, we can ensure that the remainder of 2024 brings even more positive changes for our beloved cats.

For more information, email safecats@rspcansw.org.au.

To review the impacts of our Keeping Cats Safe at Home project, download our full impact report.