QT: Hi Fiona, Clare and Alexandra, what's the word on the street this week at Pets n Vets?
Fiona Ross: They're talking about swine flu and a lot of people are talking about the Athol St car park cats. We've got one here today that people caught. A lot of people are really concerned about the wild cats in Queenstown and how there's nothing being down about it. That's a big issue.
Clare Temperton: We get calls about it every day. It's a hard one. We can't just go and set up traps because at night you don't know who is going to come across the traps.
QT: Why are there so many wild cats around?
Alexandra Heim: People not spaying and neutering their pets. And with lots of foreigners in town, they get an animal and leave it behind when they leave.
QT: Where are they breeding and what are the repercussions?
FR: It's the old post office site where they're all breeding. We've been telling people to ring and write to the [Queenstown Lakes District] Council. We've got cat flu in town, big time, and it's because of all the stray cats.
CT: We've definitely got an increase on last year. It was early December [when] we really started noticing the number of kittens. And feline Aids is definitely on the up. We're doing a test for $50 and that's been a big thing for us because we need to identify the cats with feline Aids.
QT: What are the symptoms of cat Aids?
AH: They lose weight, look depressed, maybe getting lumps and bumps somewhere. Losing body condition is probably the major sign you'll see. It would be a good idea to test and vaccinate them, especially if you don't know where they came from.
QT: What is Pets n Vets' recommendation for a happy, healthy cat?
FR: Ensure they get their annual check-ups and vaccinations is the most important thing, just the same as humans.
