Flying cats head into a new future

Renee Pilcher

IN Queensland they are four-legged refugees, but in South Australia the same cute and cuddly kittens are in great demand.

RSPCA Queensland spokesperson Michael Beatty says Queensland's animal shelters have far too many kittens, but the same organisation in South Australia has empty kitten cages and shelter staff forced to turn away disappointed adopters.

With a little help from their friends at PetRescue, Jet Pets and Toll Priority, the two RSPCA operations have worked together to launch Australia's first flying kitten program - an airlift of cats, unwanted here but now due to arrive in South Australia this week, on the way to new homes.

Jet Pets' Scott Williams says the organisation has for two years been helping PetRescue relocate individual animals to new families in order to save their lives.

“However this is the first time a large scale, shelter-to-shelter program has been tried and we're really keen to lend a hand,” he said.

The RSPCA says it currently has 54 kittens waiting in foster homes in Queensland.

They will now have long and happy lives in South Australia.

PetRescue, a popular internet website focused on animal adoption, has more than 450 rescue organisations listing pets for adoption.

“By building strong relationships between our rescue groups, we hope to see more of this type of initiative,” said PetRescue's Vickie Davy.

“It's innovative thinking by shelters dedicated to saving lives that keep pets from becoming statistics.”

Meanwhile the RSPCA says an upsurge in surrendered pets may well be linked to rental accommodation shortages, higher rents and an unnecessary crackdown by some landlords and bodies corporate on tenants with pets.

“They are imposing more and more restrictions on potential tenants for the simple reason that they can,” Mr Beatty said.

“The sad thing is that there are very simple ways to ensure that animals and their owners do not abuse the property.”