At CPS we believe that all cat owners have a responsibility to their cat and to the community they live in. We offer information on the long term costs and responsibilities that owning a cat will bring. Please look at WIRES brochure for more information on responsible pet ownership.

Being a responsible cat owner means not just providing your cat with a balanced and nutritious diet and constant access to clean, fresh water, but also:

• Ensuring your cat is desexed, microchipped and registered
• Providing safe, comfortable shelter
• Keeping your cat free from parasites by providing regular flea and worm treatment
• Maintaining your cat's health by ensuring regular check-ups and vaccinations as well as any necessary veterinary treatment
• Ensuring your cat is securely curfewed indoors every night. This protects your cat as well as native wildlife
• Grooming your cat
• Playing with your cat and providing suitable toys so they can play when you're not home
• Making sure your cat is always cared for - this means organising boarding or 'pet sitting' if you go away and even making sure you have plans in place for emergencies
• Providing loving attention and affection.

The State Government of Victoria has produced a DIY guide, How to Build Cat Proof Fencing and Cat Enclosures that is available for free download from their responsible pet ownership website. The Cat Protection Society of NSW thanks the State Government of Victoria for permission to create this link. To access the publication, please click here

A project of the NSW Young Lawyers Animal Rights Committee. A guide for Keeping pets in strata schemes. Your questions answered. To access the publication, please click here

Cat owners, please keep your cats safely inside your house and secure your property so that intruders cannot harm your cat. Tragically, incidents of criminal cruelty to cats continue to occur and it is hard to protect free-roaming cats from the behaviour of bad people. Cruelty to animals is illegal and should be reported to your local police or the NSW RSPCA on 02 9770 7555 or www.rspcansw.org.au