Community & Business
28 January, 2023
Refuge hits record numbers
LAST year was one of the busiest for the Mareeba Animal Refuge, with the organisation smashing their record for cat and kitten adoptions.
In 2022, a total of 253 cats were adopted from the refuge during one of their biggest intakes yet.
Several litters of kittens made their way in the cattery with hopes to find their new home and staff member Felicity Pollard said culprit of the influx was people not desexing their animals.
“No one is desexing their animals and there are so many ‘accidental’ pregnancies amongst cats,” she said.
“Once they go on heat, they wonder off to find their mate and then once they give birth they just keep going and going – it is definitely a big problem.”
Unwanted litters usually end up in the refuge, but it is thanks to several new cat parents that these litters can have a loving and playful life.
Litters of puppies have also been making their way to the facility, with each pen hosting two or more dogs.
The facility has limited room, so staff members of the refuge are urging locals to desex their animals to avoid
unwanted litters and to adopt, don’t shop for your next furry friend.
Cats and dogs are available to meet seven days a week at the refuge facility on Hickling Avenue, Mareeba.
