Pittwater Life May 2024 Issue

Push to keep
your cat at home
Northern Beaches residents
are being encouraged to keep
their pets safe at home as
part of an ongoing animal
protection campaign. Northern
Beaches Council is one of 11
councils who have joined
forces with RSPCA NSW as
part of the Keeping Cats Safe
at Home project. According to
RSPCA NSW, two out of three
cat owners have lost a cat to a
roaming-related accident, and
one in three to a car accident.
Promoting responsible
ownership that goes beyond
desexing and micro chipping
of cats, Council is asking
owners to consider keeping
their cats at home. Mayor Sue
Heins said providing a secure
environment benefited not
only cats but helped keep
wildlife safe. “This initiative
aims to protect native
species while also protecting
domesticated cats from tragic
road accidents,” she said. To
help promote the campaign,
Council is running their
‘Keeping Cats Safe at Home’
competition for a second year.
Cat-lovers are invited to submit
a photo or a video reel of their
cat or kitten living its best life
at home; they will go into the
draw to win one of 50, $500
vouchers for a deluxe outdoor
cat enclosure from Catnets.
More info on Council website.
May Shack acts
The Shack Live Music Club
is held on the first Saturday
of each month at the Ted
Blackwood Hall at Warriewood.
May’s show features three
live music acts in a cabaret
candlelit atmosphere with BYO
food and drinks for an
affordable and enjoyable night
of live entertainment. The
concert on Saturday 4 May
features Daddy Longlegs & The
Swamp Donkeys, Anousha
Victorie and Cap in Hand.
Tickets $30 at shackfolk.com
or cash at the door (no wi-fi).
Vet
on call
with Dr Brown
Cats are experts at hiding
illness. Regular checkups
with your vet will ensure
that they catch any potential
illnesses early, leading to happier
and healthier lives.
More and more of us are
choosing cats as their companions,
yet cats receive fewer
veterinary check-ups than our
canine companions. Here are
some things to know:
Dental Care – Just like humans,
cats need regular dental
care to prevent dental problems
that can cause pain and serious
health issues. Plaque, tartar,
and gum disease are common
issues among cats, with 70% of
them developing periodontal
disease by the age of two.
Spotting Dental Issues –
Bad breath, yellow and brown
tartar deposits on the teeth,
bleeding gums, and difficulty
eating are classic indicators
of a dental issue. Regular
teeth brushing or using dental
wipes, along with special
dental food, can help maintain
your cat’s oral health.
Taking Action – Ensure your
cat’s dental health by scheduling
regular check-ups with your
vet – at least once a year, if not
every six months. During these
visits, your vet can assess your
cat’s dental health and recommend
appropriate at-home
care, or a dental procedure if
necessary.
General Health Tips –
Provide enough litter trays,
preferably one more than the
number of cats you have; use
shallow dishes for feeding to
prevent feline acne; enrich
their environment with scratching
posts and toys for mental
and physical stimulation; and
offer multiple water sources
throughout your home to
encourage hydration.
Take the first step in ensuring
your cat’s health by booking
a free dental check with a
vet nurse at your local Sydney
Animal Hospital. Don’t wait
until it’s too late – prevention is
better than a cure.
More info or to schedule an
appointment, visit sydneyanimalhospitals.com.au
or
call Avalon (9918 0833) or
Newport (9997 4609).
News
The Local Voice Since 1991
MAY 2024 47