PONSONBY PEOPLE + THEIR PETS ASK ALEX
HELP SPCA AUCKLAND SAVE AN ADULT CAT TODAY! MANY PEOPLE WHO ADOPT CATS LOOK NO FURTHER than the cute kittens, but have you considered giving an adult cat a forever home? SPCA Auckland receives many adult cats into our care, sometimes when their owners can no longer care for them, when the owner moves to a house unsuitable for cats, or occasionally when their lifelong owners pass away. Often, adult cats are bewildered by being moved from their current, comfortable life to an uncertain future. SPCA Auckland cares for them in the meantime, but what each cat really needs is a loving home again. Why would you adopt an adult cat? Adult cats have established personalities and tend to be more settled and better behaved. They are often much less demanding than kittens and make great companion animals. SPCA has many adult cats of varying ages. For example, Manuka is a playful five-year-old sweetheart who was rescued by the fire brigade with her kittens from the roof of a house. She is very smoochy and loves to snuggle up on your lap! Their oldest cat, Minky, is a charming, quiet-natured fellow aged 10 years young. His owners brought him in to the SPCA after Minky became very unsettled at home. He has a heart of gold and just needs someone to give him the love he deserves. Together Manuka, Minky and many other lovely cats wait for a caring forever home - can you help? View all the cats online at www.spca.org.nz or www.facebook.com/SPCAFriends PN or visit SPCA, 50 Westney Road, Mangere. Open 7 days from 10am to 4pm. F
The World Belongs to the Dissatisfied
Each month Dr Alex Melrose answers readers’ pet related issues. Email yours to: alex@vetcare.net.nz I really enjoy hearing your segment on George FM. My question is related to my cat and relocating to Australia. We live on a quiet street and she has a front and a back garden to run about in as well as roaming the quiet street and other people’s gardens. From what I can find online for somewhere to live in Melbourne it is all units with teeny courtyards or apartments. Because of the life she has had here, will this move really disrupt her wellbeing or can a cat adapt to be more of an inside cat and get used to a paved courtyard instead of a garden? Kristina, by email.
Q: A:
Thanks, it’s a lot of fun doing Breakfast radio with Thane and Kara. Please keep listening online when you move! Yours is a great question about lifestyle changes, relevant to many of our clients even when moving around locally in central Auckland.
It’s much more common to have indoor cats in Australia, plus they have compulsory micro-chipping for cats. Their aim is to try and create a scenario that’s safer for the cats (so many poisonous creatures to avoid) and safer for the wildlife (Gareth Morgan would be slightly happier). Although no cats are great fans of change, she will be probably be very happy after a period of adjustment. The key will be to enrich her environment as much as possible with climbing frames, toys, and laser pointer chase games. Reducing her food intake is probably also wise to match her likely reduction in activity levels. We even found a cool cat exercise wheel that we are getting for our cattery. So spend up and enrich the home and courtyard and enjoy having her with you sharing your PN adventures. (DR ALEX MELROSE, BVSC, MRCVS) F VETCARE GREY LYNN & UNITEC, 408 Great North Road, T: 09 361 3500 www.vetcare.net.nz F PN
DEADLINE - 20TH OF THE MONTH
PONSONBY NEWS+ March 2015
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