Best Friends Felines

About the shelter

Headed by a committee of cat-loving individuals, Best Friends Felines (BFF) is a cat and kitten rescue charity that operates in Brisbane, Australia and other coastal areas near the city. BFF rescues cats and kittens that have found themselves in various situations (i.e. abandonment, surrendered by human companions, rescued from the streets and cat colonies, or saved from euthanasia at the council pounds).

With a no-kill policy, the organisation ensures that every furball rescued will be temporarily placed in loving foster homes. Until they find their own forever home, they remain under the rescue’s care for as long as it takes. The health of BFF rescues is given top priority at the organisation. Hence, they work with a network of veterinary practices located in Mitchelton, Loganholme, Mudgeeraba, Minyama, Robina, Morayfield, Manly, and North Ipswitch. All rescued cats and kittens are given full vet work whilst in the organisation’s care. Companion animals are also desexed, vaccinated, microchipped, and given worm and flea treatments.

Since 2017, Best Friends Felines has run their “Last Litter Program” (LLP) which aims to provide a desexing service to cat mothers. This helps reduce the number of unwanted litters that come every year during kitten breeding season which inundates rescue organisations and council pounds across Australia. BFF takes entire litters to rehome through the organisation, and desexes the mothers free of charge. All kittens from the litters will also be desexed, microchipped, and given full vaccinations. As BFF is a not-for-profit organisation, running the LLP program puts them usually at a loss, thus slots are very limited and dependent on the availability of space within their network of foster carers and sponsors.

Adoptions through the organisation go through a process which begins with the potential adopter filling out BFF’s online form. There is a response turnaround of until 48 hours for someone from the organisation to return an enquiry. BFF requires that all potential adopters meet with the desired animal.

Potential foster carers also go through a similar vetting process, with BFF requesting the completion of the “Foster Carer Application” form. The organisation has an “indoor cat only policy” unless the potential foster carer has a cat run or large enclosure. All foster carers need to be within a comfortable driving distance from any of the veterinary clinics. A reliable mobile phone/landline/answering service is also a requirement, as well as availability for the home to be open to visitors that may want to meet the fostered animal. BFF lists a detailed description of what they expect from their foster carers on their website.

Mission

• Supporting the no-kill policy, they aim to place all their rescued “bffs” in loving homes no matter how long it takes.
• Best Friends Felines dedicates itself to rescuing and rehoming cats and kittens from all over Brisbane and the Queensland coastal areas.

How you can help

As an ambitious organisation, BFF has a variety of community activities and events available to raise funds for their good cause. Join in their Murder Mystery Nights at one of the local pubs, their Trash and Treasure market stalls, and other exciting fundraiser events all year round!

BFF has registered in the “Containers for Change” program where people can receive refunds of 10 Australian cents for every container turned in. It’s a great way to not only help kittens and cats in need, but also the environment!