Report Cruelty Donate

Our role

The state and territory member Societies provide services to animals in need through their shelters and inspectorates. In the national office, RSPCA Australia works to influence animal welfare policy, practice and legislation across the country
Go to Our role

Animal welfare science

Caring for animals

Farm animal welfare

Public education

Advocacy

Enforcing the law

Key issues

The RSPCA advocates for the welfare of animals across a number of industries, issues and platforms. Help from our supporters is important to progress change. Working together is key.
Go to Key issues

Farm animals

Sport, entertainment & work animals

take action live sheep export alternate
Priority issue
Australia is closer than it has ever…
Live sheep export

News

Here you'll find the latest news relating to the RSPCA's vital work, press releases on national events, education on animal welfare issues, animal welfare science updates and our very own podcast covering a range of current topics.
Go to News

Blog

Media centre

Podcast

featured media release sheep v2
Media release: No further delays on live sheep export phase out
Read the media release

Support us

Whether you're an individual or a business, there are multiple ways you can support the RSPCA
Go to Support us

For individuals

For businesses

National events

An animal in the RSPCA care being cared for by an RSPCA vet
Donate now to support your local RSPCA and make a difference to animal welfare across Australia
Donate

Learn

The RSPCA aims to make evidence-based research accessible to the community, so that they can have confidence in the choices made when it comes to animal welfare.
Go to Learn

Knowledgebase Offsite

Animal Welfare Seminar

Animal Welfare Science Update

Education resources

Cage free and proud

Responsible sourcing

Key information

Domesticated animals

Non-domesticated animals

Aquatic animals

AWS24 Banner 1200x630
RSPCA Animal Welfare Seminar 2024
Through their eyes: Strengthening our…
Learn more

About

The RSPCA is an independent, community-based charity providing animal care and protection services across the country.
Go to About

Annual reports

Annual statistics

Board & governance

Scholarships

Join our team

Our history

Contact

about us national statistics
Read our National Statistics
Compiled on a national basis by RSPCA…
Annual statistics

Adopt

By choosing adoption, you’ll not only have the chance to make a friend for life, but you’ll be giving an animal a second chance and helping support the RSPCA.
Go to Adopt

Adopting a dog or puppy

Adopting a cat or kitten

Adopting other animals

Responsible pet ownership

adopt a pet logo
Visit the Adopt A Pet website
Make a difference to a pet’s life today.
Search Adoptapet
Contact Us
RSPCA Approved Farming
Report Cruelty Donate
Report Cruelty Donate
  1. Home
  2. News
  3. Media centre
  4. RSPCA ACT Cat Desexing Program A Success

During the month of September, RSPCA ACT partnered with local vet clinics for its newest animal welfare initiative and successfully desex 380 cats owned by residents in the greater Canberra community.

The ‘Frisky Tom’ campaign aims to desex 1,500 cats over a three-year period. To encourage cat owners to do this, the campaign offers free and discounted desexing for a month.

The campaign was implemented after RSPCA ACT noticed a worrying trend in the increase of pregnant cats and unwanted kittens coming into their care at the Weston shelter over a number of years. In fact, last financial year RSPCA ACT broke its own record set just the previous year for the number of kittens adopted by 9%.

RSPCA ACT CEO Tammy Ven Dange said that the rise in pregnant cats and kittens coming into care is a worrying trend, “Breaking our records for kitten adoptions two years in a row may seem like a good thing, but actually it’s quite troubling. We’re fortunate that right now there are enough people in Canberra that want to adopt these unwanted animals. However, with this kind of growth rate it is unsustainable both from an animal welfare and a resource perspective.”   

Throughout the month of September RSPCA ACT vet clinic desexed 212 cats while local vet clinics including Kent Street, Inner South, Wanniassa Hills, Northside and Curtin desexed 168 cats. In total there were 380 cats desexed during the month.

Tammy Ven Dange was very happy with the number of cats desexed during September, “We had hoped to do a few more this year, but we now have plenty of lessons learned to take into next year to ensure that those that need to service know that it exists for them. What I can say is that we could not have achieved 380 desexings this year without the wonderful support of the vet clinics involved. A huge thanks goes out to them.”

Of the cats that were desexed, 29% were from the Tuggeranong region, with the City region next highest at 17% and the Belconnen region at 16%.

Tammy says it’s great to see people take advantage of the program, “Desexing your pet is a part of being a responsible pet owner.  The “Frisky Tom” campaign is meant to remove financial barriers for people to do this, and we are very happy to see so many cat owners take advantage of this program this year.”

With the warmer months well and truly here, RSPCA ACT would like to encourage members of the Canberra community to desex their pets any time of the year to avoid unwanted litters. RSPCA ACT offers payment plans for veterinarian services for owners on any income.  Please call (02) 6287 8100 or your nearest vet to book an appointment.

For all the latest RSPCA ACT news, visit www.rspca-act.org.au or follow RSPCA ACT on Facebook and Twitter.

For more information or interview requests please contact:

Joshua Pickham, Marketing Coordinator, RSPCA ACT
Email: jpickham@rspca-act.org.au
Phone: 02 6287 8110

subscribe box

Stay informed on big issues and how you can help improve animal welfare across Australia.

Subscribe today and we’ll keep you updated on all the latest campaigns, events and news.

We care about your data in our privacy policy.