The Cat Protection Society of Victoria (CPSV) has launched its Santa Paws Appeal, calling for donations to cats in need this Christmas.
Last Christmas period, CPSV took in 310 cats and kittens, accounting for nearly 25 per cent of the total intake for 2023, with each cat spending an average of 59 days in the shelter before being adopted.
This year, CPSV is encouraging businesses, corporations, and cat lovers to share some Christmas spirit and donate to the Santa Paws Appeal.
Rachel Bitzilis, Marketing and Communications Manager at CPSV, said the daily cost to provide a safe space for each cat is $25 with the expenses significantly increasing for cats requiring medical care.
“With rising cost-of-living pressures leading to an increase in cat surrenders, along with many cats remaining undesexed and roaming outdoors, we anticipate even more cats coming into our care seeking refuge this Christmas.
“During the Christmas season, our foster care program reaches full capacity as kitten births surge in the warmer months. These kittens need to be placed with our volunteer foster carers in order to grow and thrive ahead of anticipated adoption at around 10 weeks.
Bitzilis said that every contribution is essential in helping to provide the best possible care, medical treatment, and shelter for their cats as they work to find them loving, permanent homes.
“Even a $25 donation will allow us to provide a lonely and abandoned cat with toys to help keep their spirits up at Christmas time.”
With more than 75 years of commitment to finding loving homes for every feline, CPSV has provided refuge and rehomed over 85,000 Victorian cats. Every year, CPSV cares for more than 1,200 cats and kittens, achieving a 98 per cent rehoming rate in 2023. CPSV does not euthanise cats on entry due to space or age.
“We have a variety of beautiful cats who will be spending their time with us this Christmas, including our stars Bennett, Jeremy and Atticus. Most of these cats have spent the best part of their lives without a family to call their own or needing to battle for survival on the streets.
“As a not-for-profit, we rely on donors to continue making a difference in the lives of cats and families. Every donation, no matter the size, makes a tremendous difference. It’s a wonderful way to spread some Christmas joy as these funds will support our efforts to rehome more cats,” said Bitzilis.
Donors will also be able to write a Christmas wish for a shelter cat in need, which will be displayed online or in the shelter on the CPSV Wishing Tree.
To make a tax-deductible donation and for more information on the appeal, visit the CPSV website at: https://catprotection.com.au/campaigns/santa-paws/.
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