Pawareness Podcast # 56 | Addressing Cat Overpopulation in Australia | The Barn Cats Project

In this episode of the Pawareness Podcast, we welcome Emily Wright, Founder of the Barn Cats Project. Based in Melbourne, Australia, the Barn Cats Project aims to rehome stray and feral cats, as well as address their overpopulation issues in their community. Emily shares that the overpopulation of cats often threaten the population of native species and wildlife in Australia. Founded in January this year, her rescue aims to rehabilitate homeless cats so they wouldn’t have to prowl the streets and antagonize wildlife in rural areas.
Emily explains some of the initiatives that the Barn Cats Project is taking to fulfil their mission. Some of these examples include raising awareness through education programs, responding to calls related to the concerns involving cat colonies in neighborhoods, and providing homeless cats with proper homes. Although trap-neuter-return is illegal in Australia, the Barn Cats Project takes the necessary approach to connect homeless cats with the right owners and suitable homes.
“We started with trying to find farm homes for cats who can’t live in homes for people.” - Emily Wright
Tune in to find out the prevalent issues involving stray and feral cats in Australia, and how rescue groups are finding ways to rehabilitate and rehome them!
Follow Barn Cats Project on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thebarncatsproject/?hl=en
Visit their Pet Rescue Page: https://www.petrescue.com.au/groups/11903
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Episode Timeline

[00:36] Introducing Emily Wright, Founder of the Barn Cats Project
[02:14] The threats of cat overpopulation in Australia
[03:22] The initiatives of the Barn Cats Project
[04:10] Trap-Neuter-Return is illegal in Australia
[07:00] The average time it takes to rehome cats
[09:31] How did the Barn Cats Project start?
[10:56] The Barn Cats Project’s outreach programs
[12:58] The goals of the Barn Cats Project for 2022