Over recent months with funding from Ten Lives Cat Centre and Bruny Island Environment Network I have been working with local cat owners and Small World Documentaries to develop a series of educational videos on responsible pet cat ownership. The short, engaging videos capture real-life stories of cat owners sharing the benefits and practicalities of containing their cats. This project is particularly exciting as, to the best of our knowledge, these videos are the first of their kind anywhere around the globe!
Happy contained cat, O'Malley in his enclosure. Photo by Lara van Raay
A range of approaches is featured including modifications to houses, decks, fences and garden enclosures; a custom built cat enclosure; and use of a harness and lead. The videos show the cats (Richard Parker, Pompom, Duchess, O’Malley, Morris, Lily and Rasputin) going about their normal daily activities and highlight the many advantages, both for the cats and their owners.
The videos will be launched in January 2018 and will form the basis of a social media campaign. It is hoped that they will inspire many more cat owners to share their experiences…. so stay tuned!!
Happy contained cat, Duchess, in her enclosure. Photo by Lara van Raay
And next year a complementary series of videos will be developed, by the TCT, with funding from NRM South. This series will provide advice on enclosure design and construction and information on how to help cats make the transition to containment by addressing possible behavioural problems.
Article by Kaylene Allan, Cat Management Office at Kingborough Council
Top image: happy contained cat, Rasputin, on his lead. Photo by Lara van Raay.