Cat Chat December 2014 by Design City

CatChat CAT HAVEN’S QUARTERLY MAGAZINE | December 14

SNAKE SEASON Face to face with a snake!

THE SUN, SKIN CANCER AND YOUR CAT Keeping you cat safe this summer

AGED CARE CAT COMPANION PROGRAM Mutually Beneficial for Cats and Older People

Long Term Lenny Lenny photo by Alma Sarhan

Message from Roz Robinson Cat Haven CEO Dear Members, We come rapidly to the end of another year and what an amazing year it has been for Cat Haven in terms of saving more cat’s lives than ever. We have embraced several new programs including rehoming FIV cats to responsible owners, and treating rodent ulcers. In addition to this, and thanks to a very generous donor, we now treat ringworm in cats and kittens. We have upgraded our sick bay area, from 5 rundown runs, to 18 state of the art condos where we treat ringworm and other illnesses. This comes at a cost to Cat Haven in both terms of financial costs and the additional resources it takes to treat these cats and kittens. None of this would have been possible without the generosity of our members, who always come to our aid for our various appeals and those who have entrusted their estates to us to use in the best possible way to improve our infrastructure which ultimately improves the lives of the our cats – thank you for your generosity. I would like to thank all of our staff, volunteers, and our Board, who all work so tirelessly in sometimes difficult circumstances to ensure every cat DOES matter. We have seen a record number of volunteers this year in all areas of our operations.

A special thanks has to go out to our army of foster carers, who open their hearts and homes, to care for and provide TLC for a variety of reasons, whether or not it’s because we are full, we have mums and new born kittens, or just some of our cats need some R&R from the shelter environment. Some take on new born kittens committing themselves to 2 hourly feeds, 24 hours a day – that’s dedication! We have experienced a full year of being a Cat Management Facility with 14 councils on board, with the operation being very successful and councils very happy with our services. Coming into Christmas, just a quick reminder to make sure your cats don’t get into some foods which could be harmful to them e.g. cooked bones, chocolate.

All of us at Cat Haven would like to wish you and your family all the very best for the festive season and look forward to continually improving Cat Haven in 2015.

Contents

pg.5

pg.6

pg.14

Message from Roz Robinson

Give a Cat a Second Chance

The Sun, Skin Cancer and Your Cat

Volunteers – Amanda Huckstep

Snake Season 6

Staff Profile – Stacey Belding

Keeping Your Cat Safe

Aged Care Cat Companion Program 16

Community 10

Cat Chat Goes Electronic

A Happy Reunion

Keep on the Lookout

Fundraising Events

$50 Snip & Chip Deal

Big Baggy Brings So Much Joy

Latest Sponsors 18

Gold Class Boarding

G2Z: Getting to Zero Euthanasia

Connect with us...

Lenny (Photo by Alma Sarhan)

facebook.com/CatHavenWA

Magazine designed by Design City. Supporting Cat Haven’s brand since 2005.

twitter.com/CatHavenWA

Photography is kindly supplied by Alma Sarhan and Houndstooth Studio

youtube.com/user/CatHavenWA

Please call Chandra Woodley on 0412 115 937 if you are interested in advertising in Cat Chat.

2 | Cat Chat December 2014

Please donate to help us upgrade Kitty Cam, Cat Haven’s online real-time video of our kittens playing at the shelter. Kitty Cam is one of our most valuable tools to get our message out to the public and show people what fun cats are. But we need your help to make their play area bigger, brighter and fit for purpose, and above all, more hygienic.

Please Help Us Upgrade

Kitty Cam

Your details NAME: ____________________________________________________________________ ADDRESS: ____________________________________________________________________ PHONE: ___________________________ I would like to donate: $ _________________ to help upgrade Kitty Cam $10 will provide flea and worm treatment for a cat $25 will feed a cat for a week $50 will help fund a foster care place for an extended amount of time $100 will contribute towards vital vet care

Send form to: Cat Haven Reply Paid 83881 23 Lemnos Street Shenton Park WA 6008

$200 will provide a subsidised sterilisation and a microchip for two cats To donate online, please visit: www.cathaven.com.au/store/donation/ Or simply complete this form and either mail or email to us. Type of Card:

Visa

MasterCard

Credit card number ________-________-________-________ EXP. DATE: _______/_______ Signature __________________________________________ If you are interested in becoming a regular donor, please tick here: Donations of $2.00 or more are tax deductible

feature article

Lenny’s Story

One of our favourite cats to ever stay at Cat Haven, Lenny, has sadly been at the shelter for a whopping six months this Christmas. He is desperate for a new home in the New Year! 14 year old Lenny was found wandering the streets of Leeming in July. He has the most placid, gentle personality and just loves to sit around next to you and look out of the window. He would make a great companion for someone who spends time at home, but he wants you all to himself as he doesn’t really mix with other cats. He has been called the ‘Executive Cat’ as he has spent most of his latter days residing in the CEO’s office, wandering across the keyboard and helping her type when her back is turned. Please consider taking lovely Lenny home – he is a Golden Oldie which means he can be yours for just the cost of a donation, and he comes to you sterilised, microchipped and vaccinated. Contact us for more information about adopting him.

4 | Cat Chat December 2014

vets voice

The Sun, Skin Cancer and Your Cat Did you know that cats can get skin cancer from exposure to ultraviolet (UV) radiation just like we can? In fact, it is unfortunately a common problem especially in cats with a white coat, although any cat can develop sun-related skin cancers if they spend too much time in direct sunlight. The most common skin cancer that we see at the Cat Haven clinic is Squamous Cell Carcinoma (SCC). Squamous cells are flat, scale like cells that make up the majority of the epidermis, the outer layer of skin. They are also found in the lining of the mouth, the respiratory and digestive organs. SCC can occur elsewhere in the body, not just the skin but the tumour behaves very differently so we will concentrate on the form that occurs in the skin. The most common site where SCC occurs is on the ears, the eyelids and the nose. Sometimes we will diagnose it elsewhere such as the on the belly but that is a more common sight in sunbaking dogs rather than cats. SCC in the skin is fortunately a rather slow growing malignancy and tends not to spread to other organs. However it is a bit like the proverbial iceberg – there’s a lot more going on under the surface than we can see. The most common factor that starts an SCC is prolonged or very intense exposure to ultraviolet radiation, especially UVB rays. That’s exactly what happens in our sun-baked country. White cats unfortunately do like to sun themselves and they are the cats most at risk! There are several stages that the skin undergoes when it is exposed to prolonged sunlight. The first change is called actinic solar dermatitis. On the ear tips this would appear as flaky skin, visible blood vessels and sometimes curling of the ear edge. If there is more UV exposure then these changes progress to pre-cancerous plaques then carcinoma in situ and eventually invasive carcinoma. Carcinoma in situ looks like a shallow ulcer or a non-healing sore. When it is allowed to develop into the invasive form it looks like a painful raw cauliflower lesion that eats into the ear, eyelid or nose.

Can it be treated? That depends on where it is and how far along it has progressed. SCC of the ear flap, the pinna, is the easiest to treat as the pinna can be removed down close to the base where there is adequate hair. Both pinna will usually be removed at the same time. Cats tolerate this surgery extraordinarily well. They look a bit like an E-type Jag afterwards but they suffer no long term problems after surgery. SCC of the eyelids is difficult to treat as there is so little tissue to deal with surgically. Small lesions may be successfully removed but if there is any destruction of the eyelid the prognosis is poor. SCC of the nose is usually treated with cryosurgery, that is, by freezing the affected area. This is reasonably successful if it is started early. On occasions the whole nose can be removed but these cats are difficult to find ‘furrever’ homes for. Other forms of treatment such as radiotherapy can be useful but chemotherapy treatments are not well established. Can it be prevented? Absolutely! Preventing your cat from going outside in bright sunlight is the first thing to do, especially between the hours of 10 a.m. and 2.00 pm. Just like us! If your cat just loves to sunbake and you are unable to stop him or her then you can use sun block. There are very effective sunscreens available from your vet that use a titanium oxide blocker – a bit like zinc cream. Unfortunately you won’t be able to apply it to the eyelids or the nose. It does work on the ears but as you can imagine most cats will clean it off rather quickly. You are much better off not letting your cat outside in the hot sun! If you think your cat might be suffering from an SCC take it along to your vet. The sooner it is diagnosed the better the outcome.

Articles provided by Tony Pusey, Vet Clinic Manager

Gorgeous Minty was found wandering around Gosnells in November with really badly burnt ears. Our vet diagnosed skin cancer and operated on her, and she is recovering well, but as she was only two years old so this shows how quickly skin cancer can affect a white cat. She’s now been adopted into a loving home.

Cat Chat December 2014 | 5

vets voice

Snake Season As the weather gets warmer your cat may find itself face to face with a snake! Snakes become more active during warmer weather, with most species increasing their activity as the temperature rises. Some species like the Western Tiger Snake may be active all year round. Cats at risk of snake bite are those that hunt, are allowed outside, especially at night, and those that live close to bushland, wetlands and properties where poultry or caged birds are kept. I have often been asked “what should I do if I find my cat with a snake?” There are two quick answers to this one. Firstly, leave the snake alone. The most common situation for snake bite fatalities occurs when people are trying to catch or kill a snake. The second answer is simply take your cat to a vet immediately. The sooner treatment is started the quicker the recovery if they should need it. Which brings me to another question I have often been asked when people find their pets in this sort of situation, which is “what should I look for?” Short answer – your car keys! If you wait for symptoms to appear you are wasting precious time. It’s far better for your cat (and your wallet!) if your cat is already at the vets being monitored than waiting at home for symptoms to appear. Time wasted is a serious factor in treatment success. What if you didn’t see the snake? Unfortunately there are several different species of venomous snake that occurs in the Perth area and the surrounding hills and their venom varies in strength and composition so symptoms may vary. Often cats (more often dogs) will vomit shortly after being bitten and then become uncoordinated, staggering or weak. Sometimes that stage will be only last a short time and they appear to be recovering.

6 | Cat Chat December 2014

Unfortunately more is to come – they may pass darkly coloured urine (blood and muscle protein breakdown), have altered breathing which may start as rapid shallow panting which progress to increasingly slow shallow breaths as paralysis sets in. The pupils will be dilated and won’t respond to strong light. Cats will occasionally not show symptoms for many hours and will only present with increasing weakness and paralysis. Even cats that receive prompt treatment may suffer and die from acute kidney failure a couple of days later. How will my vet know which type of snake antivenom to use? Sometimes your vet may be able to use a specific antivenom if he or she knows exactly what species is responsible. This can be done with a venom detection kit that uses either remains of venom on the bite site (very rare in cats and dogs), a urine sample or a blood sample. If a large amount of venom has been injected the test may not be as accurate. If your vet doesn’t have access to a venom detection kit they may be able to make an informed guess at what species depending on its description (really hard) and where you live. If the treatment can’t be targeted to a definitive species then your vet will use polyvalent antivenom which works against Death Adder, Taipan, Tiger, Brown and Black snake bites. It’s very expensive however and has a very short shelf life. If you live in a high risk area it is a good idea to ask your vet next time you are there as to what antivenom they carry. Just remember the suburbs can be high risk – I have treated Dugite bites in Belmont and Hilton and I have seen some big Tiger snakes in Wembley!

Which snakes are in the Perth area? There are a surprisingly large number of different snakes to be found on the coastal plain that can cause either fatalities or severe illness. We have Dugites, Gwardar, Bardicks, Tiger Snakes and Whip Snakes (plus many more not so serious ones). In the hills the Mulga or King Brown (it’s really a Black Snake!) and Southern Death Adder may also be found. All snakes are protected fauna and you are more at risk trying to catch or kill a snake for identification than if you leave it alone. After your cat has safely made its way to the vet you might like to ring the Department of Parks and Wildlife on (08) 9474 9055 and they will put you onto a volunteer snake catcher in your area.

Elisha’s Scaly Scare One of our staff member’s cats had a very recent first-hand experience of snake bite in her back yard in Kwinana. Elisha said that her 2 ½ year old tabby cat, Moo, disappeared for over a day and a half, which was unusual as she would normally come in for a cuddle and some food each day. Her brother went out looking for her and calling her, when he heard an unusual sounding meow from the house behind their home. When he looked over the fence and saw Moo, he immediately knew something was wrong and jumped over to get her – the poor cat was paralysed completely and only just managed to get the sound out! They were so lucky to have found her as normally cats can’t survive any longer than three days outside in this condition. Their vet initially thought Moo had been hit by a car but after further investigation, they suspected a snake bite, which blood tests confirmed. Moo stayed at the vet for 3 days where she received an anti-venom drip and luckily made a rapid recovery. Although she couldn’t walk and had to drag her back legs along when she first returned home, lucky Moo later fully recovered within about four days. She now only goes outdoors on family supervised outings!

Photographs supplied by Terrestrial Ecosystems

Articles provided by Tony Pusey, Vet Clinic Manager

helpful tips

Keeping Your Cat Safe With snake season upon us and to avoid your cat being involved in cat fights, accidents or simply getting lost or stolen, it is worth considering keeping your cat indoors permanently. Your cat can live happily indoors but you need to ensure that it gets all the mental stimulation and exercise it needs (or you could consider building a specialised outdoor enclosure). Cats that live indoors tend to spend more time with you and are less likely to annoy the neighbours, hunt or catch diseases.

8窶ポ窶イat Chat December 2014

helpful tips

Ensure your plants are safe for cats – some common plants, such as lilies, are fatally toxic to cats. RSPCA recommends the following to make life indoors as cat friendly as possible: • Make your home a feline friendly, stimulating environment where your cat won’t get bored. Provide vertical climbing space, horizontal space and hiding spots. There are lots of products available, such as ladders, climbing frames and window hammocks (many available at the Cat Haven shop). • Each cat should have access to more than one individual litter tray, well away from eating and sleeping areas, and access to fresh water. • Provide plenty of toys to keep your cat amused – and vary them. Cardboard boxes with holes are great for hide and seek games. Make sure all toys are safe for cats – avoid string toys as these can cause intestinal obstruction. • Play with your cat daily and give it plenty of attention and company – playing enables it to use its instinctive pouncing behaviour and release pent up energy. • Make sure your cat has several scratching posts to keep nails in good condition (and to save your furniture). • Cats love to bask in the sun – make sure your cat has a nice sunny spot to lie in and access to a window where it can keep an eye on the outside world. • Many cats are social animals – consider having two compatible cats to keep each other company while you are out, preventing loneliness and boredom. • Your cat still needs to be vaccinated, sterilised and microchipped even if it doesn’t interact with other cats.

Cat Chat December 2014 | 9

community

COMMUNITY Your cat, your stories A Happy Reunion Our Ranger went to pick up a lost cat from Cockburn council recently and after a quick scan, discovered the cat was microchipped. After contacting the owner we discovered that the owner had undergone a sinus operation in January this year, so had to rehome her cat with her friend due to cat hair issues interfering with her recovery. One day, the friend’s neighbour shooed the cat away with her hose and the cat was never seen again…until December, when the microchip was able to locate the owner and a happy reunion resulted. Smokey, the cat, (a beautiful smoochy, medium haired tabby!) had an operation prior to becoming lost, due to an infection which resulted in his eye being removed. So one-eyed Smokey was reunited with her owner after over 10 months, all thanks to a registered microchip.

Big Baggy Brings So Much Joy I wanted to say thank you so much for the joy you have given both my partner and I after adopting our big, black bundle of fluffy joy earlier this year. Bagheera (originally named Princey) is 4 years old (his birthday was last week) and is the most one of a kind, gentle cuddly giant I have ever met. Baggy is more than settled in to our home and we wouldn’t have it any other way. We were just about to walk out of Cat Haven when I needed to turn one more corner in the adoption centre and that’s when I saw him, nearly taking up the whole enclosure with his size, I knew I had to take him home that day. He is truly apart of our family now and we wouldn’t have it any other way. You can see him really relaxed in the photo attached... Thanks heaps Cat Haven! You deserve the world and more and people should recognise you for helping out the way you do. Love Vanessa xxx

If you have any interesting stories about your experience with Cat Haven cats, please email chandra.woodley@ cathaven.com.au

Fundraising Events A huge thanks to all Cat Haven’s wonderful, tireless volunteers – without their help, none of these fantastic fundraising events would be such a success.

Next Event

17 Jan

Past Events Internet Cat Video Festival at Northbridge Piazza 17 January 2015 5pm – 9pm FREE | www.visitperthcity.com | 08 9461 3368

Cat Haven helps bring this offline celebration of online cat videos to Perth for the first time. Enjoy 85 clips – from six second Vine videos to short films – in a ‘specially curated program not available as a collection online. Also see the Free Flicks for Kids film A Cat in Paris and locally made cat videos; get your face painted (for a gold coin donation); learn about cat care and adoption and pet some real kittens (until 7pm).

10 | Cat Chat December 2014

Wet Nose Day November 2014 – A Great Success Cat Haven extends a massive THANK YOU to the whole tireless team of volunteers and supporters who contributed to our Wet Nose Day Open Day in November. It was a fantastic day, with hundreds of people coming through the shelter, over 20 cats adopted out and a whopping $16,000 in much needed funds raised on the day. We couldn’t do it without such an amazing dedicated team of helpers!

Gold Class Boarding Kennel Pick Up Service Gold Class is our pick up and drop home delivery service for boarding kennel customers where you can be safe in the knowledge that your well-loved cat is being delivered in style to its temporary holiday home! For an extra charge, when you book your cat into boarding, one of our experienced staff will come to your home to pick up your cat and take it in to Cat Haven, where it will be settled into its kennel. We will then deliver your cat home when you return so you don’t have to wait another moment to see your furry friend. All Gold Class services must be booked and paid for in advance and why not order some of your favourite cat food and cat litter to be delivered to your home at the same time! Contact boarding@cathaven.com.au for more details. A recent comment from one of our Boarding customers:

Creative paws.

Hi Bronwyn Thank you – yet again, for taking such good care of my favourite furry friends............ It’s always a good sign when I turn up to collect them that they ignore me – in other words “Oh – you’re back” with no enthusiasm whatsoever! So comforting to know they are so well cared for – and I do appreciate the pick-up service, saves me a great deal of stress (and time) before going away. It’s always so hard to leave them, especially Jack with his spoilt boy temperament and need for medication – you are making it easier! You and your team in Boarding provide an excellent service Bronwyn – as you are aware I have been boarding my cats for quite some years now, and you are carrying on the comforting style that has been improved over the years. Regards Joan

Building brands. Transforming businesses.

adoption

Give a Cat a Second Chance

– Adopt a Cat Today. Cat Haven has hundreds of cats and kittens in need of a good home. Please come into Cat Haven to meet your new friend or see our website: www.cathaven.com.au

Abra

Anya

Beef Stu

Billie

Buddy

Buzz

Happy

Kuro & Shiro

Lenny

Little Bug

Patch Adams

Peanut

Pumbie

12 | Cat Chat December 2014

Crisis FIFO Cats Shift Workers Can Have Their Cat Fix Too! Sponsor a Cat and Save on Tax.

Cat H aven is full !

Just because you are a FIFO or Shift Worker doesn’t mean that you can’t enjoy the pleasure of having a cat! It’s nearly impossible to own a cat full time if you have the type of job that demands you fly up to site to work on a regular basis, so why not simply sponsor a cat at Cat Haven on the FIFO Sponsorship for only $350 a year. Not only are you helping to feed and house a homeless cat, but you can come into Cat Haven at any time while we are open and have a cat cuddle or play. And, if you sponsor a cat or donate to Cat Haven, you can reduce your annual taxable income by the whole amount of your donation, and pay less tax each year. So why pay the tax man – own a cat part time instead! (Contact your accountant for advice).

Chopper

Dreamer

Elmo

Fireman Sam

Little One

Mango

Marley

Minnie

Smiley

Sofia

Toots

Vicroaria Purrham

Cat Chat December 2014 | 13

volunteers

VOLUNTEERS Our greatest resource Cat Haven relies heavily on the assistance of a large team of fabulous volunteers to help run the shelter and raise essential funds. Currently we have about 200 volunteers that help out in a number of roles ranging from reception & admin, on grounds, cleaning, fundraising and in boarding and vet clinic. We are still looking for more people for cleaning on site, reception and data entry work and we have various times and days available to suit and fit around your life. It’s a great chance to meet like-minded people and give back to the community, and of course, you get to see the cats!

Amanda Huckstep Always on the Go! The volunteer reception role is a very busy, hectic and stressful job where you need good customer service skills and the ability to remain calm under pressure. If you are interested in volunteering at Cat Haven please visit our website or email volunteer@cathaven.com.au

We asked Amanda a little about her volunteering role at Cat Haven: How long have you volunteered at Cat Haven and what is your role? I decided to do some volunteer work as I couldn’t work for a while due to a wrist injury, so when this role came up at Cat Haven I just grabbed it last February. I didn’t really mind what role I did but reception seemed the best choice to accommodate my injury. How often do you come into Cat Haven? I come into Cat Haven 7 days a fortnight for 3 hours each day and will continue until I have recovered. I would love to have a paid job at Cat Haven though. Why did you decide to do volunteer work? I really just needed to get out of the house and I can’t drive so it was a good way to get out and talk to people and it gives me something to do. I like to feel that I am helping and of course, you get to see lots of cute cats! Why did you choose to volunteer at Cat Haven? I have just always had cats and kittens and it’s a way of helping them. What are the highs and lows of the job?

Amanda has been an absolute legend on reception, so much so that there are days where we would be lost without her! She’s like an energizer bunny, always

Lows: Yes I often seem to take the sad phone calls from terminally ill people who need to leave their cats with us at Cat Haven when they pass away so that we can look after them and re-home them. Also it’s tough to see people surrender old cats because they feel it’s too much to look after them.

constantly running around helping customers and the

Highs: It’s so good to be able to help cats go to good homes – you have to meet very stringent criteria to adopt a cat from Cat Haven.

staff in anyway she can. She’s also extended her

What are the qualities you need for a job like this?

volunteer work to help at events and even taken it

You have to be calm and be able to deal with everything happening at once! You also have to be polite even if you don’t want to and show no disapproving expression.

going above and beyond in what we ask her to do,

home with her becoming a foster carer for orphaned kittens! She is a wonderful person and a true star on reception. Thank you!

Olivia Finlay Customer Service Supervisor

14 | Cat Chat December 2014

Have you had any special moments? Yes it’s been great to be able to be a foster carer of very small kittens for 2-3 weeks at a time, and then because I work at Cat Haven reception, I often get to see them adopted out which is great.

volunteers

Cat Haven Staff Profile Stacey Belding

Has Her Feet Firmly on the Ground.

What was your previous job and how long have you worked at Cat Haven? I’ve been at Cat Haven for about 4 years now having started off as a volunteer for about 4 months and before this I was working as a Nanny in New Zealand. I enjoyed those years as a Nanny but I have always wanted to get into animal care and didn’t really want to go down the Vet Nurse path so this was perfect. Whilst volunteering, I was offered a job in the Boarding Kennels as Kennel Hand and then basically got poached to work on Grounds full time. It’s just so interesting and rewarding; I love it! What qualifications or qualities do you need for your role? Emotional resilience. Patience! Lots of patience. You also need to be able to handle stress very well and be a natural leader. What are the highs and lows of your job? Highs: Adoptions – I like dealing with great people and seeing cats find new homes. Also it’s great to see us slowly get to zero euthanasia and being part of this success with the team. I am so proud of all the Grounds Staff! They are all so hardworking and dedicated, and always do the right thing for the cats. They’re a great little team who all get along. Lows: Euthanasia – especially the days when it was a lot tougher with a higher euthanasia rate, where I had to be involved in the decision making process of putting a cat to sleep. It’s also pretty stressful in crazy kitten season (right now!). What inspires you?

Stacey Belding, our Grounds Supervisor at Cat Haven, has the significant task of managing all the on-grounds operations, staff and volunteers at the shelter and ensuring a high level of cat care. She runs a team of 12 dedicated Kennel Hands and oversees the cat cleaning, feeding and record keeping, and works closely with the on-site vet clinic to carry out vet checks. Stacey is also heavily involved in the cat adoption process and daily in the cat intake room. We asked her to tell us a bit about her role and what inspires her: ...it’s great to see us slowly get to zero euthanasia and

Finally seeing the results from the past few years’ work: euthanasia rates dropping drastically, improving work flow procedures that benefit staff and the cats, and being able to make changes at the shelter like FIV testing on all cats that come to Cat Haven. The staff inspire me too as they are an awesome group of people. What’s your ideal future vision? I would love to finally see people pay attention to the Cat Laws and see a lot more cats sterilised and microchipped and all our hard work pay off, with less kittens and un-sterilised cats in the community. Finally, I have always wanted Cat Haven to be more involved in education. It would be great to get out to schools, universities, scout and brownie groups etc. There are still a lot of people who don’t know about the Cat Laws and it would be great to start here with getting the message out to the young.

being part of this success with the team. I am so proud of all the Grounds Staff!

From all of us at Cat Haven, we wish you Meow Christmas and a Purrrfect New Year! Cat Chat December 2014 | 15

support

Cat Haven Aged Care Cat Companion Program – Mutually Beneficial for Cats and Older People The Communal Cat Program for Nursing Homes and Aged Care Facilities commenced August 2014 with two Perth Nursing Homes taking ownership of communal cats from Cat Haven. About the Program Cat Haven hand picks the most suitable unwanted cats from its shelter to live in a ‘nursing home communal environment’. These are often older, confident, social lap cats, who are placid and friendly. The cats are delivered to the Nursing Home to live at the facility FREE OF CHARGE! Cat Haven provides all the food, cat litter, bowls, litter trays and treatments for the life of the cat. Food and litter, health checks, worming and flea treatment is delivered on a monthly basis free of charge. The obvious benefits to cats are that a homeless cat finds a home, and older cats are often overlooked in a shelter. Cats can often get depressed in a shelter environment for long periods of time so it’s great to give them a break and a chance at a fun new life. Rachel Badger from Greener Pastures Farm Sanctuary with her pal Buffalo

16 | Cat Chat December 2014

If you are interested in finding out more about the program or want to discuss adopting a communal cat, please contact Roz Robinson at Cat Haven.

Cat got your chair?

Health professionals and researchers say there are many excellent health benefits of owning and interacting with a cat as follows: Lower risk of cardiovascular disease: Apparently, if you own a cat, you are less likely to die of cardiovascular disease and reduce the risk of heart attack. Improve your immune function: The feelings you get related to the cat can help you give your immune system a boost. Cats often know when you are ill, and can come and provide you with comfort, helping you get better while boosting your immune system. Reduce blood pressure: Just stroking a cat is calming and lowers blood pressure. Lower cholesterol: Interestingly, cat owners have lower cholesterol than those who do not own cats. Reduced risk of stroke: A study at Minnesota University found that cat owners could cut their risk of stroke by 1/3. Reduce stress: Being able to care for an animal, or having a cat snuggle with you, can help you feel better, and reduce your level of stress. Reduce anxiety: Petting a cat is calming, as are other aspects of caring for cats. When you are concerned with caring for another creature, it can help you take your mind off your worries. Improve your mood: Owning a cat can help you feel better in general, boosting your mood. Help with depression: Owning a cat can also help relieve depression. While a cat may not actually â&#x20AC;&#x153;cureâ&#x20AC;? depression, it can help take your mind off your problems, and focus on something else. Reduced loneliness: Cat companionship can help those who are lonely feel a connection with another life. Fewer health care visits: This includes visits to the doctor, and hospital visits. Studies have also shown that nursing homes that allow cats as part of the therapy for patients have lower medication costs than facilities that do not make use of cats as part of therapy. Longer life: Along with being married and avoiding main roads, you can enjoy a longer life with a cat.

See our range of cat furniture instore or online

cat haven news

Check out our revamped website! www.cathaven.com.au Try out the new search feature on the home page to help answer any of your cat-related questions.

Latest Sponsors Our sincere thanks to the following cat pen sponsors, who have helped Cat Haven cope with the cost of looking after numerous cats staying in our shelter so far this year:

Cat Haven Thanks Corporate Cat Pen Sponsors: Base Equipment Hire

Cat Haven Thanks Personal Cat Pen Sponsors: • Lei Healy • Matthew Smerilli • Gino Bastow and Louise Birds • Barrie and Victoria Crawford Please call us if you would like to become a cat pen sponsor; it’s only $500 a year for corporate sponsorship and $350 a year for personal sponsorship, or our new Vet Clinic sponsorship is only $100. All sponsors receive an engraved plaque on the cat pen of their choice.

G2Z: Getting to Zero Euthanasia Update Keep on the Lookout for Rubbish Bags and Boxes They May Contain Kittens Sadly at this time of year, the height of Kitten Season, many poor mother cats and kittens are dumped all over the metro area, in parks, industrial areas, laneways etc and one recent story highlights how it’s a good idea to be on the lookout. A lady found three gorgeous kittens whilst on a local walk at the rear of her home this month. At first she saw what looked like a rubbish bag dumped near to the edge of a lake in her local park. On closer inspection, she saw the bag move and when she undid the bag, she found three young cats inside. She took them home and contacted her local council ranger who brought them into Cat Haven. Our Ranger said “We don’t know how they ended up there, but they are obviously pets as they are very relaxed and easy to handle”. This good Samaritan was understandably upset by the experience of finding cats in a bag, and would love to adopt the cats herself, but sadly she is prevented by her landlord.

$50 Snip & Chip Deal Right now is prime time for cat breeding! Sterilise your cat now and play your part in reducing the number of stray cats and kittens like Gerrie in WA. Thanks to a generous State Government Grant, we can still offer the special ‘Snip and Chip’ $50 deal for concession card holders to sterilise and microchip their cat. Contact Cat Haven to make your vet appointment!

18 | Cat Chat December 2014

We are happy to report that our euthanasia rate has dropped considerably in the last quarter with percentage rates dropping from 25% of cats taken in being euthanised to a record low in November of only 13%. We will keep working towards reducing this further by maintaining our foster program, adopting out FIV and Ringworm cats and continuing to broadcast and educate about cat sterilisation and microchipping.

Cat Chat Goes Electronic Cat Chat is now available online from our website or electronically by email. Due to strong demand from our members to try to save costs at Cat Haven, resulting in more money to spend on cats, in future we will be reducing the number of printed versions of the magazine to a bare minimum. So, if we have your email details already, you will automatically receive it electronically. If not, in order to keep receiving Cat Chat, please provide your email address to us by emailing olivia.finlay@cathaven.com.au

fleas

heartworm

other nasties

vet-grade protection vet-grade protection

Remember to protect your pets every month One easy monthly treatment

Works inside and out to protect against internal and external nasties

Safe for kittens and puppies from just 6 weeks

Not a scheduled poison so itâ&#x20AC;&#x2122;s a gentle choice for the family*

Please Donate, Adopt, Foster, Bequeath, Volunteer.

Reception Ph (08) 9442 3600 admin@cathaven.com.au Boarding Ph (08) 9442 3655 boarding@cathaven.com.au Open 7 days a week (Closed Christmas Day and Good Friday) Please see our website for opening hours. 23 Lemnos Street, Shenton Park WA 6008 Reduce, Reuse, Recycle! Please recycle this brochure and give it to a cat-friendly friend.