Heartbreaking cat stats. Townsville Council calls out uncaring owners

Richard Dinnen - Queensland Editor | June 8, 2022

Pic: Animal care officer Celeste Tinsley with cats at the Townsville shelter

Townsville City Council says it’s heartbreaking that only seven per cent of cats who come in to the city pound are reclaimed by their owners.

Councillor Maurie Soars said Townsville cat owners don’t care enough to claim their animals or desex their pets, leaving vulnerable litters of kittens to fend for themselves.

“We’re seeing an increasing number of kittens and cats coming in who are either very sick, not desexed, or have no-one looking out for them.

“This places Council in a difficult situation, especially when the animals are so unwell or left to go feral, making them unsafe to place back into the community, that there is no other choice but to humanely euthanise.”

Last financial year there were 1468 cats and kittens impounded at the Townsville Animal Care and Adoption Centre. Only 105 were reclaimed by owners, and more than 200 were euthanised.

Councillor Soars said the figures are heartbreaking and unacceptable.

“While nearly 900 of the abandoned or impounded cats found new loving families, almost 70 per cent, the fact remains that these were 900 domestic pets who were abandoned by their original owners.

“It is every pet owner’s responsibility to care for their pets, including registering or approving them with Council, getting them microchipped and desexed, and ensuring they are contained within their property.”