News and Updates

What is panleukopenia?  Feline Panleukopenia (FPV), also known as feline parvovirus, is a highly contagious virus. It is similar and closely related to parvovirus in dogs. However, dogs can’t catch it from cats. What are signs of panleukopenia?   Common signs of infection include very low energy, loss of appetite, vomiting, fever, and (sometimes bloody) diarrhoea. Diarrhoea can range from mild to potentially life-threatening, which is why it’s important to monitor your cat and seek urgent veterinary treatment if you observe your pet presenting with any of the symptoms above. The incubation period is between two and 14 days. This is the time frame between the cat’s contact with the virus and the appearance of clinical signs. Cats can shed the virus into the environment two to three days before they show symptoms. This means infected cats can infect others before they show signs that they are sick. Symptoms of the virus (see above) are usually visible five to seven…

RSPCA NSW is teaming up with Happy Staffy Co this May to help find homes for staffies ready for adoption.   Over the last 12 months, over 400 staffies have been successfully adopted from RSPCA NSW shelters and found their happy ever after.  Staffies are one of the most popular dog breeds in Australia due to their loyal nature and love for people.    Sadly, a number do end up in RSPCA NSW shelters for a range of reasons and unfortunately some staffies can end up waiting far too long for their forever homes.   Ghost is one of our current staffies available for adoption and he has been waiting over 500 days for his forever home. The five-year-old is described as an affectionate goofball with a real love of toys and being able to stretch out in the sun or on the sofa.   Wilson is another staffy that has been at RSPCA NSW for hundreds of days now and patiently waiting for the right person to come along. While the 10-year-old is missing a leg, he’s still got so much love to give and just needs the right home to call his own.   As with any…

A Project Update: Supporting Safe-at-Home Cats Across NSW 🐾  As the Keeping Cats Safe at Home program continues to grow, it’s become increasingly clear that making life safer for cats doesn’t happen overnight. Though not wholly unexpected, our project has proven that change is a lengthy, but worthwhile, process. One that starts with small commitments, practical support, and empowering people to feel confident to do things a little differently.  Just this last month alone has proven how powerful this process can be. Whether it’s a cat being desexed, a carer learning how to manage a small colony, or a family exploring ways to keep their cat safely at home, these moments all pave the road to lasting change for cats across NSW.  Building the Foundations for Safe-at-Home Cats  A safe-at-home lifestyle looks different for every cat and every household. For some, it starts with desexing. For others, it’s about enrichment, transitioning to spending more time indoors, or simply understanding what their cat needs to feel safe and stimulated at home.  Across NSW, we’ve now supported the desexing of 5,211 cats, reaching 61% of our 8,500 overall project desexing target, with several councils already meeting or…

Transitioning Your Cat to a Safe-at-Home Lifestyle  Keeping your cat safe at home is one of the most effective ways to protect their health, safety, and overall wellbeing. A “safe-at-home” lifestyle means preventing your cat from roaming freely  while still meeting all their needs within a secure environment: this means meeting their physical and behavioural needs while keeping them entirely indoors or while providing them with safe outdoor access through the use of limited enrichment spaces like a catio or enclosed yard.  There are significant benefits to getting your cat used to the safe-at-home lifestyle. Cats kept safe at home live, on average, up to 10 years longer than cats allowed to roam. This is because roaming cats regularly face risks to their physical wellbeing, from road accidents and dog attacks to disease, getting lost, or fights with other cats. In fact, 2 in 3 cat owners have reported losing a cat to a roaming-related incident.  The idea of keeping your cat at home can feel like a big change, especially if your cat is used to going outside. But, with the right planning, setup, and patience, most cats can successfully adopt a safe-at-home lifestyle and go on to live happy,…

Ahead of National Pet Day on April 11, RSPCA NSW is celebrating a touching adoption story that highlights the power of the human-animal bond.   After over 500 days in RSPCA NSW’s care, Ravvy, formerly known as Bubba, recently found her forever home and has formed a truly special bond with her new owner.   Ravvy, a seven-year-old Cane Corso, was often overlooked due to her large size and waited over a year for the right person to come along.   That right person was Stephanie, who stumbled upon Ravvy’s profile online and couldn’t resist coming down to meet her.   “I had an English Mastiff before Ravvy and I was heartbroken when he died,” Steph said.   “I was like, ‘I’m never getting another dog’, but then I saw the pictures of Ravvy on the website…I came down to meet her and she was just beautiful.”  Ravvy was taken home initially on a trial adoption to ensure it was a perfect match for all involved.  “She was great from day dot, but she’s really finding her feet now and starting to show…

Drag Bingo is back for another fabulous night on Friday 1 May  After a dazzling debut, RSPCA NSW is turning up the sparkle once again with the return of Drag Bingo fundraising night – promising an evening of entertainment, laughter and life-changing impact for animals in need.  Taking centre stage on Friday 1 May at Petersham RSL, the second instalment of Drag Bingo is set to be bigger, bolder and even more fabulous than before.  Hosted by the sensational queens, Conchita Grande and Charlamaine, guests can expect a night packed with cheeky entertainment, dazzling performances, and plenty of laughs. Best of all, every dollar raised will help us provide life-changing care to every animal that turns to our shelters and hospitals for support.  Ben Wilheim, Community Fundraising Manager at RSPCA NSW, said that guests can expect to enjoy an evening of cheeky entertainment, exciting games, and plenty of prizes, with all funds raised going directly to the animals in our care.  “We’ve been preparing a dazzling mix of laughter, good food, and fabulous fun,” Wilheim said. “There are more than $7,000 worth of prizes to win from thrilling rounds of bingo, a major raffle, a silent auction,…

Easter is a joyful time filled with family, food, and fun – but for our furry friends, it can be unexpectedly dangerous. Every year, the RSPCA and vets across the country treat pets – especially dogs – for chocolate toxicity and other holiday-related risks. To ensure this Easter remains safe and happy for everyone, here are some simple tips and important info every pet owner should know. Keep Your Pets Out of the Easter Egg Hunt It might be tempting to include your dog in your Easter egg hunt – but please keep chocolate eggs and their foil wrappers well out of reach. Chocolate is toxic to dogs, cats, and other domestic animals. This is because chocolate contains compounds like theobromine and caffeine which, if ingested, are extremely toxic and even lethal for our pets. While all chocolate is risky, dark and cooking chocolate are the most dangerous. Just 50g can be fatal if ingested by a small dog. Symptoms…

The RSPCA NSW Pet of the Year Awards are here and it’s time to celebrate the pets who change our lives.  The RSPCA NSW Pet of the Year Awards are a celebration of the pets who bring joy, laughter, comfort and unconditional love into our lives. It’s about the dogs who greet you at the door, the cats who claim your keyboard, the rabbits, birds, guinea pigs and every other much-loved companion who bring joy, laughter, comfort and unconditional love into ordinary days. It’s the way they make even ordinary days feel special. Here, regular pets are the real stars.   Whether your pet is a rescue success story, a social media sensation, or simply the light of your life, there’s a category for them in this year’s awards: You can enter into one of five categories: Cutest Dog, Cutest Cat, Best Rescue Pet, Adorable Others, and Pet Influencers.  How it works:  Create a profile for your pet, upload a few of your favourite photos, and submit your entry before 13 April 2026. Once submissions close, voting will begin and entrants will progress through knockout rounds based on votes…

When we first met Simone, her heart was as full as her home. Sharing her small apartment in the Macarthur region with 28 cats (and at the time, several dogs too), Simone was doing everything she could to care for them. But between constant vet visits, the stress of unplanned litters, and the day-to-day demands of feeding and caring for so many animals, things had become overwhelming. Simone wasn’t failing her cats, she just needed support. Through our Keeping Cats Safe at Home program, we stepped in to work alongside Campbelltown City Council and Simone’s social worker to ensure she didn’t have to face this alone. Together, we provided practical, compassionate help: transporting her cats to and from veterinary appointments, supplying food during tough times, and most importantly, ensuring all 28 cats were safely desexed. That’s 28 lives changed and countless more litters prevented. One special girl, Shyllaw, needed urgent dental surgery. Thanks to the incredible generosity of a dedicated…

A Keeping Cats Safe at Home Update: Desexing in Action Across NSW   As both an RSPCA NSW vet nurse and Keeping Cats Safe at Home Desexing Coordinator for the Hunter region, I’ve witnessed first-hand how desexing pets and strays can turn desperate situations into stories of real and lasting progress. Desexing is not just a routine veterinary procedure: when complemented by collaboration and community support, it can be the turning point that completely alters the course of a cat’s life.   Across NSW, our team has been busy working alongside councils, veterinary clinics, community carers, and volunteers to trap, transport, and desex cats. Sometimes, our efforts take the form of coordinated large-scale operations. Other times, it manifests in something as simple as a conversation.    Desexing Starts with Community   Many of the cats we encounter are part of small neighbourhood colonies. These cats are often fed by locals who, despite caring deeply for their welfare, may not have the resources to organise veterinary care for so many cats. Empowering these carers to access desexing services is a huge part of what we do. Whether it’s helping organise appointments, providing traps, or transporting cats to local clinics, sometimes that little bit of support is all it takes to stop things from spiralling and…

Why Desexing Matters: Supporting Healthier Cats and Communities Cat desexing is one of the most important steps you can take for your cat’s long-term health and welfare while also supporting your local community. By preventing unplanned litters, cat desexing helps reduce the number of cats entering shelters and pounds, lowers the risks of certain diseases, and can discourage roaming and hormonally driven behaviours. Understanding the benefits of cat desexing empowers cat carers to make informed, responsible decisions that improve their own pet’s quality of life and contribute to a more sustainable animal welfare system. What Is Cat Desexing and How Does It Work?  Cat desexing, also known as sterilisation or neutering, is a surgical procedure performed by a qualified veterinarian to permanently prevent an animal from reproducing. In males, this involves the removal of the testicles, known as castration. In females, the procedure typically involves removing the ovaries and often the uterus, a procedure called spaying, which can be performed as an ovariohysterectomy (removing both ovaries and uterus) or an ovariectomy (removing just the ovaries). (Urfer & Kaeberlein, 2019) The surgery is performed under general anaesthetic,…

The Animals in Emergencies Conference, hosted by RSPCA NSW, is set to return on Wednesday, 10 June 2026 at our Sydney Adoption and Education Centre, bringing together a passionate community committed to protecting animals when disaster strikes. This year’s theme, Building Capacity before the Crisis, highlights a simple but powerful truth: preparation saves lives. By strengthening systems, improving coordination, and learning from past emergencies, we can significantly reduce the impact on animals and the people who care for them. The conference will once again unite animal personnel, emergency responders, and advocates who share a common purpose of improving outcomes for animals in times of crisis. What sets this conference apart is its strong focus on collaboration. It’s designed to bring the right people together, those who can share knowledge, challenge perspectives, and work together to create meaningful, lasting change. Attendees can expect: Expert-led presentations sharing best practices and real-world lessons Panel discussions featuring experienced voices from across sectors Networking opportunities…

RSPCA ranks first in YouGov Charity Rankings for fifth year in a row! This ranking is based on the Donor Consideration Score, a score that measures the likelihood of a charity receiving a donation tomorrow, in which RSPCA scored 30.7. Being a trusted 150-year-old charity, we’re extremely proud of this achievement which reflects our dedication and commitment to animal welfare. We are grateful and honoured to be able to continue to advocate for the care and protection of vulnerable animals. As a not-for-profit organisation, we appreciate and value all our incredible volunteers, donors and supporters who are vital to the work we continue to do. RSPCA sees thousands of animals each year turn to us in need of rehoming, veterinary care and rehabilitation services. Our organisation is committed to giving our furry friends a voice through education, awareness and advocacy to raise present and future generations with kindness, empathy and love towards animals. We want to take this opportunity to…

RSPCA NSW wishes you and your furry friends a Happy Valentine’s Day but urges cat owners to give some thought to the kind of gifts they’re bringing home.

You may have seen animal carers and vets talk about the importance of cat enrichment, but what does the term actually mean? At its core, cat enrichment is about enhancing a cat’s environment in ways that go beyond their basic needs.   Once essentials like food, water, shelter and safety are met, enrichment provides additional opportunities for cats to engage with their surroundings, and experience mental and physical stimulation.   When done thoughtfully, cat enrichment plays a vital role in supporting positive welfare, emotional wellbeing, and overall quality of life.  There are five factors that contribute to a healthy feline environment, as outlined by Ellis et al (2013). These pillars form the essential foundations that must be in place for a cat to live a healthy, safe, and happy life.   Every person responsible for the care of cats has an important role to ensure these needs are met in any given environment.    Cat enrichment builds on these essential five pillars of a healthy feline environment:   Pillar 1 – Providing a safe space  Pillar 2 – Providing multiple and…

Travelling with a dog, cat or other animal by your side this holiday season can be an exciting and enjoyable experience. However, it is incredibly important to ensure your companion animal is safe, happy and healthy on these long trips. Luckily, we have some advice for how to ensure your furry friend can enjoy their time away as much as you do. Microchip, Health and Vaccinations Before you hit the road you should make sure that your animal is up to date with worming, flea treatments and vaccinations. You should also double check your microchip details and update them if necessary and provide them with a collar or identification device with your contact details affixed so that if your animal companion does accidentally wander astray, there is more chance of them being returned to you. If you know your pet is an anxious traveller, then your veterinarian can also provide you with some advice. What to Pack When Travelling With…

Pauline Dwyer has been answering RSPCA NSW calls for so long now she often knows what someone is going to ask before the words actually leave their mouth.   The organisation’s original call centre operator, Pauline manned the phones for an incredible 35 years, answering an estimated two million calls, and has continued to pick up the phone as a volunteer in recent years.   When Pauline started out in the 1980s, she answered every call solo and got to see our contact centre expand over the decades to a team now spanning several employees and volunteers.  “It’s unbelievable, the calls that you get. You’ve got to have a lot of knowledge; know so many things and you’ve got to try your best to always answer questions – give them the information they need,” Pauline said.   “At one point we moved to a section just behind the vet where a vet nurse would help me out with some of the calls and I learnt so much.   “When the computers came, we started to get more staff coming in and so the more staff you got, the more calls you could handle. My switch wall used to light up like…

What do Do When You Find Kittens Knowing what to do when you find kittens can feel overwhelming, especially if they’re alone outdoors. Before acting, the most important step is to carefully assess the situation — many kittens are not actually abandoned, and their mother may simply be away finding food. Understanding how to check for the mother, estimate the kittens’ age, and recognise when they truly need help will guide you in making the safest and most responsible decision for their wellbeing. You can follow this decision tree to calculate the kittens’ age and help you to know what to do. How to Estimate the Kittens’ Age 0-4 Weeks Old The best chance of survival for kittens at this age is to stay with their mother. Mum’s milk is perfect for them. She keeps them warm and protects them. You can watch the kittens from a distance, or you can come back later to see if their Mum comes…

As we say goodbye to 2025, we wanted to reflect on the year and some of the moments that made our tails wag. January We started the year with our annual Poorly Drawn Pets Campaign, raising vital funds for animals in need. February An intake of 205 guinea pigs arrived at our Hunter Shelter from an Inspectorate seizure. Without hesitation, clinic staff sprang into action, working tirelessly to desex, treat and rehabilitate them to ensure they were happy, healthy and ready for loving homes. March We were able to support those affected by Ex-Cyclone Alfred holding flood relief points at Mullumbimby, Tweed Heads and South Lismore. Our team provided animal health checks, veterinary advice, and distributed essential pet supplies. You can read more about this here.  April Our Outreach Team spent three days in Wilcannia providing animal support and care. With the assistance of our incredible community workers, the Petbarn Foundation, GreenCross Vets, Wilcannia NSW Aboriginal Land Council and the…

Rocky’s whole world fell apart when the person he loved most had to leave him behind. One day he had a family, a routine, a place to feel safe. The next, he had nothing. Rocky stayed with us at one of our Behaviour and Rehabilitation Centres. At first, he flinched at touch. He froze in fear. He didn’t know how to trust. But slowly, with patience, kindness and love, everything began to change. Thanks to generous animal lovers, Rocky was given the time he needed to heal. And one beautiful day, he walked out of our shelter and into the arms of a new family. Today, Rocky is safe. He is loved. He is home. But he isn’t the last animal who will need help. Sadly, Rocky’s story is one we see all too often.  Every single day, people across NSW are forced into the heartbreaking decision of surrendering their animals. This year alone, we received 8,199 calls that contained…