January 2013 – March 2014

We volunteered at the Tauranga branch of the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty against Animals (SPCA) in New Zealand between January 2013 and March 2014, spending one afternoon a week helping look after their feline residents.

Our main duties included taking care of litter boxes, replenishing food and water bowls, changing any soiled bedding, cleaning up any mess in the pens (vomit, fur balls, diarrhoea) and helping with the laundry and cleaning as required.

We also had to report anything unusual with regards to the cats’ health or behaviour, observe and follow specific instructions for those cats with special needs, be vigilant so that the cats did not escape from their pens, and follow a strict hygiene protocol to avoid cross-contamination between healthy and sick cats, and those in quarantine.

Last but not least, we had to make sure we found time to socialise the cats, paying special attention to those who appeared to be in greater need of reassurance (shy and/or scared), in order to improve their chances of being adopted.

Whilst we already had personal experience of owning cats ourselves, during our 14 months at the SPCA we dealt with vast array of cats of all ages and dispositions (from the very friendly to the extremely shy). This provided us with a fantastic opportunity to learn about cat body language and to gain a deeper understanding of different behaviours.

This experience has proven invaluable in many of our house sitting assignments, as it has allowed us to bond with our charges more quickly and deeply.

As much fun as we had playing with the friendly and outgoing kittens at the shelter, the fondest memory we have is of the transformation we witnessed in the cats that arrived so scared that they spent their first few days cowering in a corner, but left for their new homes bright eyed and full of confidence.

It was a real testament to the patience, care and attention provided by all the staff and volunteers and it made us feel immensely proud to have played a small part in helping these sweet cats get a second chance at a happy life.