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Cat Handbook

Introduction
The Lost Dogs' Home is Australias largest animal shelter. We rescue
and care for over 21,000 abandoned, injured and lost cats and dogs
every year. One of the Homes most important services is our
Adoption Program. Our aim is to place our animals into good
homes with suitable owners. By obtaining your Pet Licence 101, we
know you have the knowledge required to be a good pet owner.
In addition, The Lost Dogs' Home sees many cases of irresponsible
pet ownership, resulting in dumped, lost, mistreated or
surrendered animals. By educating the community about responsible pet ownership issues, we
hope to improve the overall welfare of companion animals in our society.
After you have read this brief handbook, you will be able to complete the online test to obtain your
Pet Licence 101. The online test should be answered by the intended pet owner (must be eighteen
plus years old). The test will consist of a random selection of 25 questions from each section
outlined below. It is not designed to exclude people from owning a pet, but rather to ensure
potential owners have the knowledge and skills necessary to keep a pet responsibly. Our role as an
animal welfare institution is to make sure our animals are adopted into good homes.
Once you have successfully completed the test, you will be able to print off a certificate.

Section 1: Council Registration & Section 2: Pet Identification


Kittens must be registered with your local council from three months
of age onwards. If you take ownership of a new cat three months of
age or older, you must register it under your name with your local
council. If you move house, you must register your cat(s) with your
new shire or council. All kittens/cats three months of age or older must
be registered with your local council. Failing to register your cat(s) with
your local council may result in a monetary fine. Your cat must wear its
council registration tag on its collar (elastic collars are recommended
for cats).
In Victoria, legislation requires that all dogs and cats are microchipped
for new council registrations. So if you have a new cat/kitten or have
moved into new council/shire area, you must have it microchipped.
Council registration tags, collar identification tags and microchips are all different. It is ideal for your
cat to have a:
o collar identification tag obtained from a pet register such as the National Pet Register,
o council registration tag (compulsory for cats three months of age and older), and
o a microchip (compulsory for new council registrations but recommended for all pets).
Even if your cat already has a microchip, it must wear a council registration tag on its collar and
preferably an identification tag. Many pet owners think that collar ID tags are unnecessary if their
pets are microchipped. This is not true. If a lost cat is wearing collar identification and is found by a
member of the public, it can be reunited with its owner without going to a pound or vet clinic to be
scanned for a microchip. To release your cat from a pound, you must pay pound release fees.
Microchips and collar ID tags are only effective if you keep your contact details up-to-date with the
register storing your pets microchip record. Many people move house or change phone numbers
and forget to update their pets microchip records! Microchipping is a quick and simple process.
You can have your cat microchipped at a veterinary clinic or by a qualified implanter at a council
microchipping event.
If your cat becomes lost and ends up at a pound or vet clinic, a microchip and a pet register collar
identification tag can help ensure its safe return if you have kept your contact details updated on
the database storing your pets microchip number. Microchips are a good form of permanent
identification in pets and help prevent the heartache of a lost animal. Even if you intend for your
cat to be a totally indoor cat, it is highly recommended that you still microchip your cat and place
an ID tag on its collar.
If your cat ends up at a pound and is unidentified, you cannot be reunited, unless you visit in person
to identify your cat. Pounds are only required to hold stray and impounded cats for eight days, after
which they may be euthanased or rehoused.
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Section 3: Desexing
Cats should be desexed from eight weeks of age by a veterinarian. Older cats can also be desexed
and there are health benefits in doing so, such as a reduced risk of your pet developing certain
types of cancer. Desexing your pet will not change its personality or make it fatter. Desexing your
pet early will:
o
o
o
o

prevent unwanted pregnancies


lessen the chance of your pet developing medical problems
reduce the risk of your pet developing mammary or prostatic cancers
reduce nuisance behaviours such as urine marking, roaming, fighting and territorial
behaviour.

There are already many unwanted pets in the community. Melbournes stray cat population now
totals over half a million, which means too many cats are living with neglect, starvation and disease.
Desex your cat to prevent more unwanted or unowned kittens being born.

Section 4: Veterinary Care


Ensuring your cat has access to regular veterinary
care is an essential part of being a responsible pet
owner. Veterinary treatment is available through
private veterinary hospitals, clinics and animal
welfare organisations. There are also options for
owners to take out private pet health insurance.
The Australian Law associated with owning a cat
requires that veterinary care must be provided to an
animal if it is suffering. As a pet owner, you can be
prosecuted under the Prevention of Cruelty to
Animals Act 1986 if you fail to do so.
Giving your cat the right parasite (worm) treatment
is an important aspect of being a responsible pet
owner. Worms and fleas can all harm your cat. Intestinal worms can transfer to humans and cause
serious health problems. You should worm your cat at least every three months, depending on the
product being used. Kittens need to be wormed every two weeks. To be sure you are using the right
product, you should consult your vet.
Your cat requires yearly vaccinations. Kittens require their first vaccination at six to eight weeks of
age. After that, you should consult your vet about booster vaccinations. This is to ensure your cat is
immunised against feline enteritis and cat flu.
Your cat should visit the vet at least once per year for vaccinations and a general health
examination. If your cat is seven years of age or older, you should see the vet more often. Sick cats
also require more veterinary attention. In an emergency situation, such as your cat swallowing
poison, you should phone your local veterinary clinic or go to an emergency after hours clinic.
You should also vaccinate your cat against Feline AIDS, especially if your cat will venture outdoors.
Feline AIDS is a disease which spreads from cat to cat, generally through fighting. It affects about
20% of Victorias cat population but is preventable via vaccination.

Section 5: Training my cat


Cats should be trained to fit with the life of their
owners. Cats do not require obedience training
but do require familiarisation with any new
experience or environment and socialisation with
other cats, animals and humans.
It is important that from as young as three weeks
of age, cats have regular social contact with a
human carer. Cats also need plenty of
stimulation (both mental and physical), so toys
and a stimulating environment need to be
provided. Teach your family, friends and children
how to properly interact with your cat(s).
Cats can be toilet trained to use a litter tray. If
you are unsure how to do this, seek advice from
a veterinarian or experienced person. You should
change your cats litter daily. If your cat stops
using its litter tray, you should see your vet as
this may be indicative of serious health or other
problems.
If your cat is displaying behavioural issues such as aggression or spraying, you should see a vet. Cats
can be trained to change their behaviour.

Section 6: Keeping a cat Part 1


There are several things you need to
know before you make the decision
to purchase a cat. The average cat
lives for 12 to 16 years and will cost
its owner approximately $10,000
over its lifetime. Cats require a
substantial investment of money and
time.
Cats need to be fed a well-balanced
diet of complete and nutritional cat
food to maintain health, vitality and
body weight in the correct range. If
you are unsure what to feed your
cat, you should consult your vet.
Your cat should have access to fresh, clean water 24 hours per day.
Kittens up to 12 weeks of age should be fed 3-4 meals per day and from 12 weeks to 6 months 2-3
meals per day. Adult cats from (6 months and older) should be fed at least once or twice per day
according to a vets advice.
Cats have differing nutritional requirements depending on their stage of life, amount of exercise
and physiological needs. For example, during growth, cold weather and old age, cats may require
food of differing nutritional value rather than just a greater or lesser volume.
To help keep your cats teeth clean, you should give it hard foods such as dry cat foods, raw bones
or pet products such as synthetic bones. Cooked bones should not be fed as they are likely to
splinter and may lodge in the cats throat or intestine causing serious health problems.

Section 7: Keeping a cat Part 2


It is recommended that cats are confined to your property from dusk until dawn and preferably at
all other times, for the protection of the cats welfare. Some councils enforce this through a cat
curfew and it is your responsibility to find out if a cat curfew exists in your area. Keeping cats
confined reduces the chances of them being hit by cars, getting involved in fights with other cats or
dogs, contracting diseases such as cat flu and feline AIDS and being exposed to poisons, theft or
trapping. The Lost Dogs' Home recommends that cats are kept indoors for these reasons.
Cats do not necessarily need to roam free. Alternatives to letting your cat roam free are:
o Installing an enclosed outside run
o Training it to walk on a leash
o Keeping it as an entirely indoor cat
Cats are generally sedentary animals and
can be confined to your property at all times
without a risk to their welfare, providing
environmental needs are met including
exercise through play.
It is also important that as a cat owner, you
take measures to protect wildlife from your
cat. You can do this by:
o Putting a bell on the your cats collar
o Obeying local cat curfew laws
o Installing a fully enclosed cat run
o Keeping the cat inside.
In addition to the minimum standards outlined in this handbook, there are legal requirements to
owning a pet. The Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1986 sets out the offences for failing to
properly care and provide for a cat. If you mistreat your cat, you can be prosecuted for animal
cruelty under this Act. You may also be fined and your cat could be removed from you by
authorities. The legislation also includes requirements for the provision of proper and sufficient
food, water, shelter and veterinary treatment.
Another aspect of responsible cat ownership is what you do with your cat when you are on
holidays. It is your responsibility to ensure your cat is properly cared for while you are away. The
average cost of keeping a cat at a cattery for one week is $200 to $350. If you take your cat to a
cattery or day care facility, it will need to be up to date with cat flu and feline enteritis vaccinations
(the F4 vaccination).
Cats can be safely transported in a car in an adequately restrained carry cage. Unrestrained cats
can cause accidents and should never be allowed in the vicinity of the driver. If being transported
long distances, cats should be given regular opportunities to drink.

Section 8: My cat in the community


As a cat owner, you have a responsibility within your local
community. This includes cleaning up after your cat in public
places and at home. You must also be aware of restrictions that
apply to cat ownership in your local council. Some councils
enforce cat curfews while others restrict the number of cats
you can own. It is your responsibility to find out what local laws
apply in your shire or council. Phone your local council or visit
their website to find out.
If your cat is fighting with other cats in the neighbourhood, you
should:
o Keep it indoors with limited time outside, during the
day.
o Keep it inside during the night
o Make sure it is desexed
If you are thinking about purchasing a cat, and you already own
a dog, dont worry, cats and dogs can live together in the one household. However, it depends on
the temperament of the cat and dog and how they are introduced. Introductions should be
supervised.

Section 9: Grooming
Cats should be groomed regularly if they have a long coat. Severe matting and knots of the coat is
not acceptable and requires a veterinarian or experienced groomer to correct this problem. To
avoid this matting, long-haired cats will require daily grooming and occasional clipping. This should
be done by a veterinarian or an experienced person.
Scratching posts should be provided for cats. Clipping of outdoor cats nails is not recommended as
this affects their ability to climb and escape from dangers such as dogs. Clipping of nails should be
done by a veterinarian or an experienced person.
White or light coloured cats, particularly those with white or non-pigmented ears, eyelids and
noses, are prone to sunburn and skin cancers. Precautions, such as the use of sunscreen, should be
taken to protect the vulnerable areas or alternatively keep white cats indoors, especially during the
heat of the day.
You must also give your cat regular parasite treatment for fleas and intestinal worms. There are a
number of spot-on or oral flea treatments you can give to your cat. Follow the product instructions
or consult your vet if you are unsure what dosage to give.

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