More Cats Being Abandoned

by Sherry Morse

In Detroit, crowded conditions are forcing shelters to turn away cats, to euthanize them at faster rates, and to develop new ways to find homes for the cats that are already in the shelters so more can be accepted.

The Michigan Humane Society's Detroit shelter is one that will not turn away cats that are dropped off, but will begin euthanizing more cats to free up cage space.

This year the cat population from January to October was 1500 higher than in the same time period last year.

All together the three Michigan Humane Society shelters took in 22,452 cats last year, but this year that number is expected to rise dramatically.

Animal welfare experts believe that the increase in cats being taken to shelters in Michigan and other states around the country is due to years of overbreeding and too many people who believe that it is all right for their cats to run loose and not be spayed or neutered.

Stephanie Shain, director of outreach for the Humane Society of the United States, believes that the exploding cat population and resultant strain on shelters is due to a combination of issues, but agrees that, "we certainly are seeing an explosion, and we're seeing it nationwide."

Shain adds that cats who are abandoned by their guardians, as well as those taken to shelters, often end up costing taxpayers money because of the costs of catching, feeding, housing and possibly euthanizing the cats.

In British Columbia, cat abandonment is considered an enormous community problem with devastating effects on the cats who find themselves tossed out of their homes, according to the British Columbia Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (BCSPCA).

Abandoned cats experience physical and emotional stress and become more prone to disease than cats which are kept inside. They are also more prone to injury from fights with other animals or car accidents.

Craig Naherniak, general manager of humane education for BCSPCA, says, "Lack of animal guardian responsibility and commitment, behavior problems, accessibility of guardians to rental accommodations that accept pets, and failure to spay and neuter, are all critical issues that need to be addressed."

Naherniak also said many cats are abandoned because their guardians lack the knowledge or patience to overcome their cats' 'behavior problems', like scratching furniture or soiling outside the litterbox.

Lorie Chortyk of the BCSPCA added, "As a society we need to step up and take responsibility for the animals in our care and in our communities. When we take a cat into our home we are agreeing to provide food, safety, care and loving companionship for his or her lifetime."

Pauline Tsai of Greenville agreed with this assessment. Tsai is the founder of Catitude, Feline Advocates, Inc., an all-volunteer, not-for-profit group, and is committed to providing humane education in area schools to teach children responsible animal guardianship and hopefully reduce the number of cats and dogs that are abandoned each year.

Tsai said, "Kids don't understand that when you get a puppy or kitten for Christmas, and it gets older, you don't put the cat out and you don't tie a dog to the tree. I'm hoping that (humane education will) somehow impact the number of animals who are surrendered."

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.