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Running a cat rescue involves so much more than people often realise. Beyond the financial cost, there is also the emotional side, the daily care, and the constant commitment to every cat that comes into my care. But my rescue is not only about the cats I directly look after — it is also about helping the wider community.

One of the important things I do is collect cats who have sadly crossed the rainbow bridge and scan them for a microchip, so I can try to reunite them with their owners. Even in death, I believe these cats deserve dignity, and their owners deserve the chance for closure. That is why one of my immediate plans is to purchase a chest freezer I have found one on  Facebook Marketplace and a fellow cat lover and rescuer is going to help me getting it from Nairne to my house at Mt Barker.

As difficult as it may sound, this will allow me to respectfully store deceased cats while I continue trying to identify them and locate their families. If they are collected by the council, there is often very little chance their owners will ever get them back, so having this option available can make a heartbreaking situation just a little gentler for the people who loved them.

There are also extra costs involved in this, including the purchase of body bags and fully compostable burial bags. For cats who are never claimed, these bags would allow them to be laid to rest respectfully without the need to reopen them, especially in cases where they may not have passed peacefully. This is not an easy part of rescue, but it is an important one, and I want to do it properly and with compassion.

Another major goal I am actively working towards is extending my current cat enclosure. 

The plan is to add a Stratco veranda to one end that already has a verandah simular attached which will double the size of that section. This would involve the cost of the veranda itself, removing and relocating the existing clothesline, purchasing cat netting, and setting up the area so it is safe, secure, and functional for the cats. This is not just an idea or a hope — it is something I am determined to make happen. The more safe space I can create, the more cats I can help, and the more support I can offer to displaced and vulnerable cats in our community.

I am also planning to approach our local council to ask for a community meeting about cat management in this area. While Mount Barker Council has strong cat management bylaws in place, they do not seem to be working effectively enough. I believe there needs to be real discussion between council, rescue groups, cat owners, wildlife carers, and local residents so that we can work together to find practical and positive solutions.

At this stage, I do not claim to have all the answers. I do not know whether the solution is full cat containment, a 24-hour curfew, stronger enforcement, or a combination of several things. But I do believe there should be meaningful consequences for people who ignore the current regulations, and that any money raised through fines should be directed back into the community in practical ways, such as low-cost desexing programs. I also plan to work directly with a local native rescue to help develop changes that are fair, manageable, and beneficial across all sides of the issue.

Some of my plans are small, some are big, and some may take longer than others. A few may even change along the way. But all of them come from the same place — a genuine commitment to helping cats, supporting owners, and working towards better outcomes for the whole community. This rescue is not just about what I can do today. It is about building something stronger for the future