Mackay Pet Rescue Incorporated

16/10/2026

16 OCTOBER – NATIONAL FERAL CAT DAY

BEHIND EVERY FERAL CAT COLONY IS A STORY OF HUMAN RESPONSIBILITY.

Today is an opportunity to shine a light on one of the most heartbreaking and preventable problems facing animal rescue organisations across Australia, uncontrolled cat breeding.

At Mackay Pet Rescue Inc., we see the consequences almost every day. Tiny kittens born under houses, in drains, industrial estates and overgrown properties. Mother cats struggling to keep their babies alive. Sick, frightened and malnourished kittens arriving in foster care, often requiring weeks of veterinary treatment and dedicated attention.

Many of these cats are not truly feral. Some are abandoned pets, others are frightened strays, and many are the offspring of undesexed domestic cats that have been left to breed unchecked. Over generations, kittens born without positive human contact can become increasingly difficult to socialise.

THE PROBLEM DOESN’T START WITH THE CATS. IT STARTS WITH IRRESPONSIBLE OWNERSHIP.

One undesexed female cat can produce multiple litters each year. Her kittens can become capable of breeding while they are still kittens themselves. Without intervention, the cycle continues, placing enormous pressure on rescue groups, veterinary services, wildlife and our community.

Feral cats also pose a serious threat to Australia’s native wildlife. Responsible cat ownership isn’t simply about protecting our pets. It is about protecting the environment and the animals that share it.

DESEXING IS THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT STEP WE CAN TAKE TO PREVENT UNWANTED LITTERS.

Responsible ownership also means keeping cats safely contained to your property, ensuring they are microchipped, providing appropriate veterinary care and never abandoning an animal when circumstances change.

Over the past 21 months, Mackay Pet Rescue Inc. has funded a community desexing initiative that provided 100 vouchers for female cats. This program was designed to help local owners prevent unwanted pregnancies before more kittens were born into an already overwhelmed rescue system.

We know that many people genuinely love their cats but struggle with the cost of veterinary care. This is why affordable and accessible desexing initiatives are so important.

Our volunteers work tirelessly to rescue, rehabilitate and rehome cats and kittens. But rescue alone cannot solve this problem. We cannot foster our way out of uncontrolled breeding.

PREVENTION MUST BECOME THE PRIORITY.

On National Feral Cat Day, we ask our community to think beyond the cats they see wandering the streets. Think about the kittens that will be born tomorrow, the mothers struggling to survive and the native wildlife affected by free-roaming cats.

Every cat deserves compassion. Every kitten deserves a safe beginning. And every pet owner has a responsibility to prevent unnecessary suffering.

Desex your cats. Keep them safely contained. Microchip them. Never abandon them.

Because the most successful rescue is the one that never needs to happen.

15/10/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/19x3UXHNiU/?mibextid=wwXIfr

COULD YOU SPARE $20 A MONTH TO HELP US KEEP SAYING YES?

For many of us, $20 a month is a small amount.

But when enough people give a little, it can make an enormous difference to a rescue like Mackay Pet Rescue Inc.

MPRI has no shelter and no paid staff. We are a volunteer-run, foster-based rescue, and every animal we save is welcomed into the home of one of our foster carers.

Every week we are asked to help animals who have been abandoned, surrendered, found wandering, rescued from the pound or simply have nowhere else to go.

Some arrive healthy and just need a safe place to land.

Others arrive frightened, pregnant, injured, sick, underweight or desperately in need of veterinary care.

And when we say YES, we take responsibility for them.

We provide veterinary treatment, desexing, vaccinations, microchipping, parasite treatment, food, bedding and everything else they need while they wait for a family of their own.

And sometimes that wait is not weeks. For our adult cats in particular, it can be months.

That is why regular monthly donations are so incredibly valuable.

A $20 monthly donation might not seem like much on its own, but imagine if 100 people gave $20 a month.

That would be $2,000 every month we could rely on to help pay veterinary bills and continue taking animals into care.

It means that when the phone rings and another animal desperately needs somewhere to go, we have a little more confidence that we can say:

“Yes. We’ll help.”

If you love what MPRI does and would like to become one of the people quietly helping us do it, please consider setting up a regular monthly donation.

Whether it is $5, $10, $20 or more, every regular donation helps.

You may never meet the animal your donation helps.

But somewhere in Mackay, there could be a frightened cat settling into a warm bed, a sick kitten receiving veterinary treatment, a heavily pregnant mama finally somewhere safe, or a dog beginning a completely new chapter of their life.

You helped make that possible.

Please consider becoming a regular supporter of Mackay Pet Rescue Inc.

Small monthly gifts. Hundreds of lives. One incredible community helping us keep saying YES.

15/10/2026

https://www.facebook.com/share/p/1JPXJBjfUz/?mibextid=wwXIfr

15/10/2026

🎟️ You could win $2,000 TONIGHT!

Our weekly raffle is drawn at midnight. Tickets are just $2, and every one helps Mackay Pet Rescue care for pets in need. ❤️

Psst… you've got to be in it to win it!
👉 https://www.club-draws.com/charity/mackay

13/10/2026

A TINY LITTLE SURVIVOR FROM PAGET

Sometimes the smallest rescues leave the biggest footprints on our hearts.

This precious little black kitten was discovered all alone on an industrial site in Paget.

Weighing a mere 340 grams, this tiny boy is just a handful of fluff with the most beautiful little face.

We suspect his mama may have been moving her kittens to a cooler location when this little fellow was accidentally left behind.

An industrial site is certainly no place for a vulnerable baby kitten. Thankfully, a kind-hearted person recognised the danger, scooped him up and made sure he was safe before surrendering him to Mackay Pet Rescue Inc.

And just like that, his little life changed.

Despite his ordeal, our tiny newcomer is in surprisingly good condition. He’s now safely tucked up in the care of our Animal Coordinator, enjoying regular feeds of Wombaroo milk replacer, plenty of warmth and all the comforts a little kitten deserves.

And of course, he has already met Gidget!

Our beautiful Gidget absolutely adores kittens and wasted no time giving our newest arrival a gentle little bath. She seems to think every rescued kitten deserves a proper welcome, and we’re certainly not going to argue with her!

For now, this little fellow’s only jobs are to drink his milk, stay warm, grow big and strong, and enjoy being loved.

From a lonely industrial site in Paget to a warm, cosy bed surrounded by love.

Welcome to Mackay Pet Rescue Inc, little man.

Your life is only just beginning, and we intend to make it a wonderful one.

340 grams of pure preciousness.

13/10/2026

Another great morning at B2Brews! We took in some goodies for the animals along with Simparico Trio flea and worming treatments.
Thank you Neighbourhood Hub for having us!

11/10/2026

🚨 URGENT APPEAL – EUNGELLA LOCALS, WE NEED YOUR HELP!

TWO LITTLE BLACK KITTENS SPOTTED ON THE EUNGELLA RANGE

We are appealing to residents of Eungella and anyone familiar with the range to please help us locate two frightened little kittens.

At approximately 7pm last night, a motorist travelling down the Eungella Range spotted two black kittens (there may be more), estimated to be around 10 weeks old, near one of the very tight hairpin bends.

The lady stopped as safely as she could and attempted to coax the kittens towards her. Unfortunately, both were extremely frightened. They followed the guardrail before disappearing underneath it and into the thick undergrowth.

We are very concerned that these kittens may have been dumped. At such a young age, they are incredibly vulnerable, particularly in this dangerous location.

CAN THE EUNGELLA COMMUNITY PLEASE HELP?

If you live nearby or are familiar with the area, could you please keep an eye out for these two little ones? We would be incredibly grateful if anyone who can safely access the surrounding bushland could help search.

Please do not stop on the hairpin bends or put yourself at risk. The kittens may be hiding close to where they were last seen, so a quiet, patient search may help.

If you spot either kitten, please contact Mackay Pet Rescue Inc.

These two little lives deserve to be somewhere safe, warm and loved.

Please share this appeal, particularly with Eungella and Finch Hatton residents. The more local people who know about these kittens, the better their chances of being found.

Mackay Pet Rescue Inc.

11/10/2026

A LIFE LOST TO A PARALYSIS TICK 💔

Yesterday, two volunteers from Mackay Pet Rescue Inc. responded to a call for help from a concerned family living on Sir Griffiths Way in Rural View. A very sick cat had been found on their property, and they were understandably worried about her condition.

Our volunteers immediately transported the cat to Northern Beaches Veterinary Hospital, where she was promptly attended to by Dr Jackson.

Within minutes of examining her, Dr Jackson discovered a paralysis tick.

Sadly, this beautiful girl was already in a critical condition. She was completely paralysed, unable to lift her head or move her front paws. Her heart was racing, her breathing was severely laboured, and she was also suffering from an underlying infection. She was clearly in considerable distress.

After a careful assessment of her condition and prognosis, the heartbreaking decision was made to peacefully end her suffering.

Please understand that this decision was not made lightly. Every animal deserves a chance, but there are times when the kindest and most compassionate thing we can do is recognise when their suffering has become too great.

We would sincerely like to thank Dr Jackson and the wonderful team at Northern Beaches Veterinary Hospital for their prompt attention, professionalism, kindness and empathy. They saw our volunteers almost immediately and treated this little girl with the dignity and compassion she deserved.

PLEASE BE AWARE — PARALYSIS TICKS CAN BE DEADLY.

Paralysis ticks are a very real danger to our pets here in North Queensland. They can cause progressive paralysis, breathing difficulties and, tragically, death. If your cats or dogs spend time outdoors, please ensure they are protected with appropriate, veterinary-recommended tick prevention.

Even animals receiving preventative treatment should be checked regularly, as no product provides absolute protection.

Finally, we want everyone to know that this little girl did not leave this world alone.

In her final moments, she was surrounded by kindness. Gentle hands stroked her, reassuring voices spoke softly to her, and she was treated with love and respect.

Our volunteers then took her home so that she could be laid to rest with dignity.

We may never know her name, where she came from or whether someone was missing her. But for those few hours, she mattered to us. Her life mattered.

Rest peacefully, beautiful girl. You were not forgotten, and you were not alone. ❤️

Mackay Pet Rescue Inc.

09/10/2026

BABY GANDALF HAS BEEN PRE-ADOPTED

BABY GANDALF – A LITTLE BIT OF MAGIC, A WHOLE LOT OF PERSONALITY!

Some kittens are sweet. Some are cheeky. Some are little comedians. And then there’s Baby Gandalf, who has somehow managed to be all three!

At just 8 weeks old, this gorgeous little boy is overflowing with character. Confident, happy, playful and absolutely full of life, Gandalf is entertainment plus! He approaches everything with enthusiasm, curiosity and just the right amount of mischief.

And just look at him! Pure white, with the most adorable little pink nose, delicate pink ears and a face that could melt even the hardest heart. Pure white cats are relatively uncommon, making up only a small percentage of the feline population. Their stunning snow-white coats are the result of fascinating genetics that mask other coat colours.

Gandalf’s foster carer is completely smitten with him, and it’s easy to see why. This little character loves attention, demands his cuddles and has a wonderful knack for making everyone smile. He’s the sort of kitten who will keep his family entertained for hours before curling up for some well-deserved affection.

Gandalf will be desexed, receive his first vaccination, be microchipped and wormed as part of his adoption.

We anticipate considerable adoption interest in this beautiful little boy, so we’re looking for a family who will adore his larger-than-life personality and give him the love, attention and companionship he deserves.

Could Baby Gandalf bring a little magic into your life?

Please send us a message telling us about yourself and the wonderful home you could offer him.

Message Ros on 0403 814 318.

09/10/2026

THE PINK RIBBON LITTER.

Five little lives. Five beautiful names. One very special cause.

October is Breast Cancer Awareness Month, a cause particularly close to our hearts here at Mackay Pet Rescue Inc.

This month, we wanted to do something meaningful to honour the incredible women who have faced breast cancer. Those currently undergoing treatment, those navigating the long road to recovery, those who have survived, and those whose lives have sadly been lost.

Behind every pink ribbon is a story of courage, strength, hope and love.

In recognition of these remarkable women, we have dedicated one very special litter of rescue kittens to Breast Cancer Awareness Month. A portion of each kitten’s adoption fee will be donated to support breast cancer research.

We are delighted to introduce THE PINK RIBBON LITTER!

Meet Blush, Ribbon, Ruby, Courage and Brave.

Five precious little kittens with names chosen to reflect the beauty, strength and spirit of this important cause. Four female kittens and one male kitten named Courage.

Four of these little treasures have the most extraordinary colouring. Beautiful cream coats, delicate caramel tabby markings and captivating blue eyes give them an appearance reminiscent of the much-loved lynx-point Siamese. The fifth is an absolutely adorable dark striped tabby, every bit as special as the others.

They are a striking little family, but their beauty is only part of their story.

Sadly, their lives haven’t always been easy. These kittens survived some very harsh conditions and had experienced little of the gentle human affection that every baby animal deserves.

Now, safely in the care of Mackay Pet Rescue, their lives are changing.

Our wonderful foster carers are working patiently to show these little ones that people can be kind, hands can be gentle and cuddles can be something to look forward to.

And yes, our famous Burrito Therapy is in full swing!

Each kitten is gently wrapped in a soft blanket, held close, spoken to reassuringly and showered with affection. There are plenty of cuddles, gentle kisses and quiet moments of reassurance as we help them discover that the world doesn’t have to be frightening.

The progress is already encouraging. Their confidence is growing, their curiosity is emerging and those initial fears are gradually melting away. Every little step forward is something worth celebrating.

They’re not quite ready for meet-and-greets just yet, but we’re working our magic. With time, patience and plenty of love, we’re looking forward to watching these five little personalities blossom.

We simply couldn’t wait any longer to share a sneak preview of these beautiful babies with you!

EXPRESSIONS OF INTEREST ARE NOW WELCOME

If one of our Pink Ribbon kittens has captured your heart, please contact the foster carer looking after them.

BLUSH
Contact Ros: 0403 814 318

RUBY & RIBBON
Contact Kim: 0482 173 962

COURAGE & BRAVE
Contact Pam: 0488 282 237

Our foster carers will be happy to discuss their kittens and the type of homes we are seeking. Please remember that the kittens are still building their confidence and are not yet available for meet-and-greets.

Five little kittens, each beginning a journey of courage, trust and new beginnings.

While their experiences cannot compare with the challenges faced by women living with breast cancer, we hope these five little lives can help shine a light on the importance of compassion, support and continued research.

This October, every little pawprint can help make a difference.

In honour of those fighting, in celebration of those surviving, and in loving memory of those we have lost.

Mackay Pet Rescue Inc.
Rescue. Love. Adopt.