Get involved
Local action starts locally
Every community is different, and local concerns about cats can sometimes feel difficult to know how to tackle.
A community cat management project starts with people who understand the area, a clearly identified local issue and organisations willing to work together. With the right partnerships, information and resources, practical local projects can get off the ground.
Community cat management projects also require local funding and resources. Ten Lives does not fund community projects directly, but we can help communities and organisations understand what may be required, identify priorities and explore possible grants, funding sources, co-contributions and other local support.
Ten Lives can provide expertise and work with councils, community organisations and local groups to understand what is happening and explore an appropriate response. This may include community consultation, monitoring and mapping, education, responsible ownership support, desexing and microchipping initiatives, containment support and humane targeted trapping where the evidence shows it is needed.
Thinking about a project?
You do not need to have a complete project plan before contacting us.
Start by considering:
- What issue is your community seeing?
- Where is it happening?
- Who is already involved?
- What local information is available?
- What organisations could contribute?
- What funding or resources may be available?
The first step is a conversation.
How a project develops
Successful projects start by understanding the community before deciding what action is needed.
Define the local issue
Identify what is being seen, where it is happening and why action is being considered.
Bring local partners together
Councils, community groups, Landcare organisations, residents and other partners can contribute local knowledge, expertise and resources.
Consult and gather information
Community surveys and local knowledge help build a clearer picture of cat ownership, roaming cats, community concerns and the support people may need.
Monitor and map
Targeted monitoring helps identify where cat activity is concentrated and where resources are likely to have the greatest benefit.
Take practical action
The response may include education, responsible ownership support, desexing, microchipping, containment assistance and humane targeted trapping where appropriate.
Review and adapt
Projects can be adjusted as new information is gathered and local circumstances change.
Funding and resources
Community cat management projects need resources to be properly planned and delivered.
Ten Lives does not fund community projects, but we can help identify what a project may require, advise on scope and priorities, and work with partners to consider potential funding, co-contributions and other local resources.
The scale of a project can then be matched to the funding and capacity available.
How Ten Lives can help
Ten Lives brings community cat management experience and practical expertise to the conversation.
Depending on the project, our involvement may include advice and planning, community consultation, monitoring and mapping, education, responsible ownership initiatives, veterinary pathways and targeted project delivery.
We can help you work through what information is already available, who should be involved, what resources may be needed and what a realistic project could look like.
If your council, community group or organisation has identified a local cat management issue, tell us a little about what is happening, who is already involved and what you hope to achieve.
We can discuss the next steps and what may be achievable within your partnerships, resources and available budget.