NEVER ABANDON YOUR PET. Abandoning your pet is incredibly cruel, and also illegal under the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Act 1979. Penalties apply if you are found guilty of pet abandonment. Due to the transitory nature of university life, cats are sometimes left behind when their owners move away and do not make arrangements for their pet. Abandoning your pet will cause it extreme stress.
Living on the street or on campus will be confusing and frightening for your pet. Don't assume that your pet will survive when you move away and leave it behind. Contrary to popular belief, domestic cats do not automatically return to their "natural" instincts and they find it hard to fend for themselves. If you have a pet you can no longer care for, it is your legal and moral responsibility to ensure that it has a secure alternative home where it is safe and well cared for. If you are unable to find a responsible home, you may seek to surrender it to your local vet or a no-kill animal shelter.
NB Contact these organisations as early as possible to check when they can take your cat.
Cat Protection Society of NSW Inc, ph: 9519 7201
Web: https://catprotection.org.au/
Animal Welfare League NSW, ph: 8899 3333
Web: http://www.awlnsw.com.au/
Maggie’s Rescue
Web: http://www.maggiesrescue.org/
The Mini Kitty Commune
Web: https://mkc.org.au
The Companion Animals Act was passed by the NSW Government in 1998. Under this Act all kittens born after 1 July 1999 and kept as pets must be permanently identified through microchipping by12 weeks of age, and must be registered through a local council on the NSW Companion Animals Register by 6 months of age. Cats born earlier who change ownership must also be chipped and registered. All UNSW campus cats have been microchipped and registered as owned by CCNSW through Randwick City Council.
National Desexing Network
Alley Cat Allies (USA national organization)
