Daniela Maslen runs a cat rescue shelter. Pictured with Bunyip and Pirate Sam. 76441 Photos: Stewart Chambers
By Danielle Galvin
THE swamp town of Bunyip might be named after a mythical creature from traditional Aboriginal mythology, but a tiny kitten who survived thanks to the generous donations from residents is the newest homage to the town.
Aptly named Bunyip, the kitten was a domestic short-haired emaciated one and in poor health when it came to the Second Chance Cat Rescue shelter run by Hampton Park woman Daniela Maslen.
“I had been contacted by a Sydney rescue group just before Christmas. The shelters there are overflowing with kittens and they can’t cope,” she said.
Ms Maslen started her rescue shelter in August last year.
Bunyip was one of 15 kittens who came to the shelter in early January.
He is 11 weeks old and doing much better, and Ms Maslen says he’s a very cheeky kitten.
“Looking at them now, you would never know what a difficult start in life they have had,” she said.
“They suffered from gastro and were riddled with fleas and worms.”
Most of the kittens from the litter have been adopted out through the online Pet Rescue forum. How exactly the kitten came to be named after the small swamp town is not really a mystery at all.
“I thought Bunyip sounded nice and it has a good meaning,” she said.
Kathryn Dewis, an animal activist who lives in Bunyip, has been collecting blankets, old towels, used collars, bowls and food donations for the shelter in Hampton Park and others in the area.
“It all goes to rescue organisations and foster carers who all give up their home and time to care for unwanted, abused and neglected animals until they can be re-homed,” Ms Dewis said.
Touched by the donations from residents in the town, Ms Maslen thought it would be a fitting tribute to name the kitten after the town that helped bring it back to life.
“The kind donation from the community of Bunyip was so much appreciated. The kittens are eating a lot of food and (when they are sick) they will use up a lot of blankets. In the end, all the care we give them is repaid when we find them a new home,” Ms Maslen said.
Bunyip stayed with a foster carer in Cockatoo for a couple of weeks, but is still living with Ms Maslen and her family while it waits for someone to adopt it.
“They are all so lovable even though they had such a bad experience,” Ms Maslen said.
“These kittens were on death row before I agreed to take them on.”
With the help of the Hampton Park Veterinary Hospital, Ms Maslen is looking after 15 kittens.
“We just couldn’t do it without them,” she said. “The breeding season started late last year, so that’s why we’ve got so many at the moment,” she said.
