Community Services

In addition to our regular services, Cat Haven run a number of community programs, including:

Emergency cat boarding for people in crisis

We provide emergency boarding of cats and kittens for people in crisis situations, such as escaping domestic violence; needing emergency hospital treatment; or needing inpatient mental health treatment. In situations involving domestic violence and mental health problems, people frequently have little or no access to support from family or friends, and are socially isolated. For these pet owners and their children, the bond and companionship they share with their cat is a lifeline.

Unfortunately, most human refuges and hospitals will not allow pets, and traditional pet boarding facilities will not accept pets without appropriate veterinarian records to show that vaccinations are current. As a result, people may delay fleeing violence or seeking medical treatment, due to concerns over the safety of their cat.

Cat Haven supports people in seeking the help they need. By offering boarding for these cats, we make sure they will be safe and can be reunited once their owner's circumstances improve. Because this service costs money to run, we do ask for a fee from the cat's owner. Please enquire via our admin email address if you would like to know more about this.

Pet owners experiencing a family & domestic violence situation may also find that the RSPCA Pets in Crisis service is a useful resource.

Subsidised sterilisation and microchipping

Our partnerships with veterinary clinics and teaching institutions allow us to sterilise and microchip cats for a lower cost than other clinics and shelters.

Cat Haven has run many programs to sterilise and microchip large numbers of cats at a subsidised cost to owners. These programs have been run in partnership with councils in the Perth Metropolitan area, such as the City of Gosnells program during national desexing month in July 2019; as well as regional WA areas, such as the Shire of Northam in August 2019.

When a litter of kittens is surrendered to Cat Haven, we typically offer free sterilisation of the mother cat, to ensure no further litters are produced; then we would work to sterilise, microchip and rehome the kittens.

Cat Rescue Service

Cat Haven employs a Cat Rescue Officer who is skilled in cat handling, and available to assist members of the public and Local Government Authorities in rescuing stray animals.  Our Cat Rescue Officer has assisted with trapping and collecting abandoned cats and kittens for many years - rescuing cats and kittens caught in dangerous places, such as drains and chimneys; collecting cats from hoarding situations; and providing advice to Rangers and the general public, regarding the handling of cats to minimise the risk of injuries to people and the cats.

Outreach Program

Our Outreach Program offers free cat food to financially disadvantaged people in the Perth community. Please enquire via our admin email address to learn more about this.

Education about cat welfare issues and responsible pet ownership

We provide education and training to volunteers and the general public, to raise awareness of, and commitment to, sterilisation, microchipping and cat care. This education is key to the wellbeing of cats, and helps to reduce the number of stray and unwanted cats, protecting native fauna. Education can be provided through social media posts, print media content, radio interviews or sound bites, telephone calls, group presentations, and special events.

Training opportunities for Murdoch University Veterinary students

Each year, students training to become vets or vet nurses at Murdoch University spend practical placements at Cat Haven. In the Cat Haven clinic on site, students are exposed to a wide range of cat and kitten health situations. This gives them the opportunity to experience and observe clinical consultations with owners; clinical examinations; diagnostic testing and result interpretation; development of treatment plans, including the use of medications; surgical and post surgical care.

Cat Haven also works closely with specialist veterinarians, in fields such as orthopaedics and ophthalmology. These partnerships provide students with additional, more specialised experiences.

Assistance to other animal welfare groups

Cat Haven works closely with the RSPCA and local community rescue groups. We assist the RSPCA with the rescue of cats and kittens, and can provide care for animals at times when the RSPCA facilities may be full.

We also collaborate with other animal rescue organisations, by inviting their participation in adoption events, and supporting them in finding suitable management pathways for cats who have  We also share donations when we receive a surplus; and provide vet advice and short term care for animals, when possible.