Winter in Sydney.

It can be a cold, dark, wet and windy place. The garden outside the Painted Pets studio is protected and sunny during the day. A haven for a little cat who regularly visits to enjoy the sun (her portrait will be in the gallery soon). However, sometimes she stays overnight, as does another cat who I found with wet fur and sleeping under the eaves early one rainy morning. Both look physically well cared for but I don’t understand how someone can close their pet outside on a cold night. The dangers to which these people expose their pets simply must not occur to them. So sad (stupid, negligent). A pet (lowest in the familial hierarchy) is a member of the family and should be treated with a degree of respect, love and care. If the pet were a child and DOCS found out, there would be serious trouble. It’s cold, dark and dangerous outside at night, all year around.

According to the RSPCA, in just seven years, one female cat and her young can produce as many as 420,000 cats! It’s important to desex pets when they’re young (unless you are a licensed breeder of pedigree animals). Desexing is a relatively simple procedure that can be done by a vet once an animal is eight weeks old. By desexing, you’ll prevent issues concerning unwanted animals and the chances of your pet running away or ending up in a fight is greatly diminished.
[1] wander, run away or get into a fight, reducing the risk of car injuries and infected wounds. [2] suffer less from aggression, especially a dog. [3] spray and mark their territory, a strong nasty odour to humans that’s difficult to remove. And, you end up with a nicer pet!
It’s worth checking with your local because some of their veterinary clinics offer desexing at a discount. Consider pet insurance to receive financial cover for your pet in the event of an emergency. Check with your health insurer because some of them offer a discount to insure your pet as well.