RSPCA Victoria is urging cat owners across the state to rethink letting their cats roam with the launch of a new campaign; Rethink Roaming, highlighting local risks to cat safety.
While letting cats roam might seem natural, they're up to 3 times more likely to die, can lose up to 10 years off their life, and cat owners who allow their cats to roam face 400% higher vet bills and visits1.
Speaking about the campaign, RSPCA Victoria's Head of Prevention, Rebecca Cook, said the campaign prioritised helping people keep their cats safe.
"We know animals make our lives better, and we also know Victorians love their cats, but the reality is, allowing them to roam takes years off their lives," Ms Cook said.
"From being hit by cars, getting into fights, or catching diseases, the risks are so much greater than people expect.
"It's why we've created this campaign to help cat owners understand the dangers their cat faces and find easy ways to keep them safe and happy at home.
"The majority of Victorian councils have or intend to introduce cat containment rules or curfews, but we know keeping your cat safe isn't simply about locking them indoors; it's about creating a fun, enriching environment where they can live a longer, healthier life and we want to support people doing this."
RSPCA Victoria's Rethink Roaming online tool gives cat owners a simple, interactive way to:
- Learn about the dangers their cat faces when roaming in their own neighbourhood
- Get practical tips to transition cats to a contained lifestyle
- Explore enrichment ideas to keep indoor cats stimulated and satisfied
"In addition to the risks pet cats face, free-roaming felines are also a major threat to our native wildlife making this campaign a win for Victorian pets and our environment," Ms Cook said.
