Hannah Hammoud
Brimbank council has suspended its cat trapping services due to a nationwide cat vaccine shortage which has already had a major impact on shelters.
In an announcement on November 21, the council said it has suspended its cat trapping services in order to reduce the number of cats being sent to animal shelters and the need for vaccinations to place them into new homes.
Council city futures acting director Leanne Deans said the council was notified of the vaccine shortage by Animal Welfare Victoria in a bulletin issued to all councils on November 13.
“We are committed to animal welfare and have made changes to our cat trapping service to respond to this shortage to ensure we don’t place further demands on limited supplies,” she said.
Last financial year, Brimbank council officers trapped 1904 cats and relocated them to animal shelters.
An RSPCA Victoria spokesperson said the shortage of vaccines includes those that prevent illnesses like cat flu and panleukopenia.
“While faced with these delays, we recommend keeping cats indoors and separated from feline visitors until vaccine supplies normalise,” they said.
“Cats with a strong vaccine history may have lingering immunity… however, owners are urged to speak to their vet about these delays and their cat’s needs.”
The spokesperson said RSPCA Victoria is actively monitoring the situation, but it has not impacted its ability to admit and care for cats in shelters.
The Australian Veterinary Association (AVA) released a statement saying it has already had a major impact on shelters and some have had to close its doors to new felines. It supply should normalise early next year.
“The key message is to prioritise kittens and delay adult boosters if possible,” AVA said.
Brimbank council said residents struggling should seek support from friends or family members to help take care of their cat or buy pet food or contact local animal rescue groups or organisations if struggling to afford pet food.
The council said for those still needing to surrender their cat to a rescue shelter, ensure the cat’s vaccination certificate is brought in to avoid duplicate vaccines being administered that further reduce limited supplies.
