As one of the Project Officers working on the Keeping Cats Safe at Home (KCSAH) StrayCare program, it’s incredibly rewarding to pause and reflect on just how much has been achieved since July 2025. What stands out most isn’t simply the sheer number of cats we’ve desexed, but the people, partnerships, and communities behind every feline we’ve helped.
Program Impact: Communities Exceeding Expectations
Thanks to strong partnerships with more than 70 veterinary clinics across New South Wales, over 3,900 cats have been desexed through the StrayCare program. Many participating councils haven’t just already met their 2025–26 financial year targets, they’ve absolutely smashed them! In just this financial year:
- Cumberland Council reached an incredible 637 cats desexed, achieving 212% of their target.
- Parramatta Council followed closely with 311 cats, reaching 156% of their target.
- Newcastle Council achieved 296 cats desexed, hitting 118% of their target in just six months.
- Canterbury-Bankstown reached 426 cats, achieving 142% of their target in just six months.
- Fairfield Council desexed 380 cats (achieving 127% of their target amount in six months).
- Blacktown Council reached 303 cats, achieving 101% in six months.
These results reflect the commitment of councils, vets, colony carers, and members of our community working together toward long term, humane cat population management.
Project Officers Rachael and Tenille at the Sydney Cat Lovers Festival 2025
Desexing in Action: Stories from the Field
One of the highlights of the year was seeing bulk desexing days in action. Thanks to the expertise, experience, and dedication of our team, these have been fast-paced, highly coordinated, and hugely impactful.
At Hunter Veterinary Hospital, the team wrapped up 2025 with a bulk desexing day that saw 45 cats (25 males and 20 females) desexed in a single intensive session. Another milestone moment came from our Broken Hill RSPCA Veterinary Hospital, who hosted their first ever bulk desexing day. In just three hours, the team successfully desexed 14 cats. This was a monumental achievement for our regional clinic team.
One of the most memorable moments from 2025 was when Project Officers Tenille and Emily worked alongside Mayfield Community Cats to manage strays in the Hunter region. From September to November, their team of carers, feeders, trappers, and volunteers coordinated late night trapping, safe transport, and expert care. In just one day, 28 cats were desexed by RSPCA NSW, including a badly injured stray (who now happily goes by Garfield) who arrived in care with serious injuries that required urgent care. With the family who found him agreeing to keep him, Garfield was desexed, giving him a second chance at happiness and a home to call his own.
After just three months, the group had desexed around 120 local cats, reducing the strain on shelters and carers by preventing countless future stray litters. Seeing Mayfield Community Cats’ dedication, and their recent recognition as a registered rehoming organisation, was a powerful reminder that, when community groups are properly supported, we can facilitate real, lasting change for cats and the people who care for them.
Bulk Cat Desexing Day at Broken Hill RSPCA NSW Vet Clinic
Community Engagement and Education
Education and collaboration remain at the heart of our StrayCare program. Throughout the year, Project Officers Tenille, Silvina and myself attended the 2025 Ranger’s Conference in July, engaging around 150 council attendees and strengthening on the ground collaboration around stray cat management.
In August, Claudia and Silvina represented KCSAH at the Community Cat Rally, while KCSAH and RSPCA staff also attended the Cat Lovers Festival, speaking with thousands of cat guardians about responsible cat care and the importance of keeping cats safe at home.
Our messaging has also extended well beyond in-person events, including:
- 20 social media posts shared across Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn
- 59 veterinary practices across NSW now displaying Keeping Cats Safe at Home messaging on in-clinic screens
Educational cat population explosion game
Collaboration and Community Outreach
Another major highlight was the two-day Cat Population Management Workshop we hosted in September, which brought together more than 150 attendees both in person and online. Participants included council staff, rescue groups, veterinarians, and cat colony carers. The workshop boasted appearances from local and international cat care experts, open panel discussions, and even a hands-on Cat Counting excursion, a favourite for many attendees.
We also worked closely with the RSPCA NSW Outreach Team, attending Healthy Pet Days in Bidwill, Windale and Walgett, and supporting CAWS community days at the Sydney Clinic. These events provided vital opportunities to connect directly with communities and provide desexing services and veterinary care to underserved communities in rural and regional NSW.
RSPCA NSW staff at Walgett Healthy Pet Day with Walgett Aboriginal Medical Service Limited
Building Capacity for the Long Term
To ensure communities are supported well beyond the life of the program, we’ve been focusing on building our support toolkit for the future.
- 30 cat traps were purchased, engraved, and made available for loan to individuals and groups in need
- We funded High-Quality, High-Volume (HQHV) Spray Neuter training for 12 vets and nurses across all three RSPCA NSW clinics (our Sydney, Hunter, and Broken Hill Veterinary Hospitals)
- We provided five cat traps to the Aboriginal Lands Council and Hospital in Brewarrina, strengthening local capacity for community cat care
Dr Brooke Kennedy at the RSPCA NSW Cat Population Management Workshop 2025
Looking Ahead
From record breaking desexing numbers to meaningful community connections, this past year has demonstrated what’s possible when collaboration, compassion, and evidence-based strategies come together. As a Project Officer, I’m incredibly proud of what we’ve achieved so far. I couldn’t be more excited about what’s in store for our StrayCare program and the communities we work alongside.
Rachael W
Project Officer
Keeping Cats Safe at Home RSPCA NSW
