DISCOUNTED cat desexing will be offered in July in a partnership between the City of Whittlesea and Lort Smith Animal Hospital through the Little Paws of the North initiative.
Little Paws of the North supports responsible pet ownership and aims to not only reduce the risk of potentially serious hormone-related conditions and unwanted pregnancies in cats, but also offers education sessions for pet owners to help ensure their entire family are safe and happy.
City of Whittlesea chair administrator Lydia Wilson encouraged residents to take up the offer, which also supported the upcoming new cat regulations that required all newly-registered cats to be desexed.
“Ensuring our cats are desexed means fewer unwanted kittens,” she said.
“Cats can start breeding at four months old, and with an average of four kittens per litter and three litters per year, one female cat and her offspring can produce up to 5000 cats in seven years if not desexed.
“Desexing also has a number of health benefits for your cat. The City of Whittlesea currently has 7207 registered cats, of which four per cent are not desexed, so if your cat is not yet desexed now is the time to consider it.”
City of Whittlesea residents with a concession card can book their cats into Lort Smith Animal Hospital in Campbellfield to have vets desex, microchip and vaccinate their pets at a discounted price of $50 per cat.
To be eligible for the discount, the resident or nominated owner of the pet must be 16 years of age or older, be a resident of the City of Whittlesea, and have a valid government-issued concession card.
All cats must be three months of age or older and have a minimum weight of one kilogram. Owners can drop off and collect their animals on the same day.
To submit your interest and book a discounted desexing, visit whittlesea.vic.gov.au/cats.
