CARA volunteer Victor Villareal on his TNR talk. While Dr. Valerie Velez stressed timely vaccination and proper grooming for cats.
“What’s the difference between adopting a rescue cat and a ordinary cat?”
There is no difference. According to CARA Welfare Philippines volunteer Victor Villa-Real, “All of them will purr and meow. Is any cat more special than the next? I personally don’t think so.”
This message was only one of the highlights of the Cat Adoption Event the animal rescue group organized in partnership with Pet Express, a leading cat and dog shop in the country, last August 10 at the Mall of Asia.
Villa-Real also stressed that spaying or neutering cats not only helps manage their population, but it also improves their health. “Cats that are neutered or spayed live longer and are healthier. They are less prone to diseases and are less aggressive. They are also less likely to make a lot of noise that a most people find bothersome.”
He shared that CARA’s main advocacy is actually Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) as it nips the problem of pet neglect and abandonment before it can happen.
Communities who find cats a nuisance employ ‘Trap and Eliminate’ or ‘Trap and Relocate.’ Villa-Real pointed out that the first is illegal and the other is not effective. Animals are protected in the Philippines under the Animal Welfare Act, which carries a penalty of imprisonment for 6 months up to two years.
Cat adoption gallery. Furry friends waiting for a home.
And even if cats were led astray, a new set of cats will simply replace them in a matter of days.
“The proper way to handle community cats is through Trap, Neuter and Return. This means the cats in your community will be trapped then taken to CARA for Neutering or Spaying, or in Tagalog, kapon, then returned to your community. In this manner you can safely co-exist with your neighborhood cats and not worry about them multiplying by the dozens in a short period of time,” he shared.
Veterinarian Lani Acero, CARA president Nancy Unjieng and Pet Express Representative
The event included a Cat Nutrition and Health Care seminar led by two prominent veterinarians, Drs. Lani Acero and Valerie Velez. They talked about the importance of proper nutrition for cats. Acero pointed out that most cat owners are not aware that cats require variety in their diet. “Eating the same food everyday might result in nutritional deficiency.”
It is also important to be informed of types of food that are not good for cats, such as chocolates, garlics, onions, grapes, alcohol, artificial sweeteners and undercooked meat, she said.
She also stressed the need to provide stimulation in the form of toys to cats. Most rescued cats were separated too early from their mothers, and did not develop natural cat instincts allowing them to control aggressive behavior. Play can help address any excess energy from pet cats.
This cat loves his climbing house!
Velez discussed the importance of vaccinating pets against potentially fatal diseases such as distemper, parvo, panleukopenia and rabies. She said cats should be dewormed as early as three months. Grooming is also very important as this protects cats from fleas, ticks, heartworm, which can cause serious illness to pets.
The cat playhouse was a hit.
CARA brought in rescued cats ready for adoption. Aspiring adopters must fill out an adoption form and agree to let a CARA volunteer screen them through a home visit.
Further livening up the event was a cat climbing house provided by Pet Express. It was a big hit among cat owners.
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-by michelle baena ciriacruz
Hello, I’m a cat-lover. We just arrived here in the PH last Jan. ’14 from Florida. I am appalled at seeing starving cats everywhere I go. There doesn’t seem to be any sympathy for cats in this country. I’ve started carrying cat food everywhere I go and have been able to feed a few. I have always owned cats and wish I could keep some here but unfortunately we live in a condo and won’t be able to let the cat out at night. I think we need to bring awareness for these poor cats. The media should let people know that cats are good for the environment. Cats have been known to take part in reviving Europe after the plagues.