Feline friend

By Lia Bichel
A DOVETON woman who has helped save thousands of cats is pleading for residents to open their hearts and their homes to help her save hundreds more.
Feline friendly Andrea Shiozaki, her 84-year-old mother and a number of friends make up the Bast Cat Club.
The club and additional foster carers have been providing a home, food and medicine to stray and abandoned cats for more than a decade.
They currently have about 200 cats between them with many which are in desperate need of a home.
“We rescue them from whatever situation they are in. Whether they are strayed or abused,” she said.
“We recently got four kittens that were found with their dead mother at Tullamarine Airport. When we got them they were covered with ringworm and starved. We keep them and try to get them healthy.”
Ms Shiosaki has rescued a range of cats and desexes, microchips and vaccinates them all before trying to find them homes.
She said it was important for owners to desex their cats to help prevent the spread of diseases and to decrease the number of strays in the state.
She has rescued many which are ill, and said she would never have them put down.
“Ten years ago, more than 60,000 cats were euthanized- you can only imagine how many are now,” she said.
“We believe they have a right for life- if they are ill we will nurse them.”
Some of the cats had Feline Aids, or FIV, some have diabetes and she injects them with insulin, and one was so ill that it had to be put on a drip for 10 months. Two of the cats, Zola and Emile need an eye operation because they were born with half their eyelids.
Though she has taken great pride in saving many cats, the rescuing has taken a toll on Ms Shiozaki financially.
She hoped by others adopting the cats, it would help lift that burden.
“I had a back injury 10 years ago and can’t work. I am on a pension. We pay for everything out of our own pockets and in April I was declared bankrupt,” she said.
“Right now my mum and I are in a bad position. We have no heater and no oven. We are struggling financially.”
Anyone wanting to adopt cats or learn more information can contact Andrea on 0425712 753.