RSPCA Victoria is urging cat owners across the state to rethink letting their cats roam with the launch of a new campaign; Rethink Roaming, highlighting local risks to cat safety.
While letting cats roam might seem natural, they’re up to 3 times more likely to die, can lose up to 10 years off their life, and cat owners who allow their cats to roam face 400% higher vet bills and visits.
In the Yarra Ranges, there are unique risks to your cat. These include:
The Yarra Ranges has a large amount of bushland and cats are prohibited from bushland reserves to ensure that local wildlife is protected.
On average, roaming pet cats kill more than three animals every week. 85% of the animals killed by pet cats are not brought home.
In rural areas, snakes are common near tall grass, bush and waterways. If a cat encounters a snake, it might try to pounce, strike, or even kill it.
40 per cent of cats bitten by a snake die.
RSPCA Victoria’s head of prevention Rebecca Cook said the campaign prioritised helping people keep their cats safe.
“We know animals make our lives better, and we also know Victorians love their cats, but the reality is, allowing them to roam takes years off their lives,” Ms Cook said.
“From being hit by cars, getting into fights, or catching diseases, the risks are so much greater than people expect.
“It’s why we’ve created this campaign to help cat owners understand the dangers their cat faces and find easy ways to keep them safe and happy at home.”
Yarra Ranges Council have a 24/7 cat curfew in place which means residents must keep their cats within their property boundary at all times.
