Well … Spring has sprung and it is “kitten season”. We have many kittens currently for adoption – or who will soon be available for adoption. I am sure that you will always, especially over the next few months, be able to find kittens for adoption at Bobbi and the Strays. We are always extremely happy when a kitten gets adopted into a great home.
But sadly, for most, that is not usually the case. Many kittens die at a very young age due to diseases and the other dangers of living outside on the streets. Millions of cats (and dogs) are born each year to live and die homeless – or are caught but then euthanized because there is just too many of them and not enough homes.
The really frustrating part of this is that most of these litters could have been prevented. Over 17,000 dogs and cats were euthanized in our own city last year. Even with more people choosing to adopt rather than buy, there is simply not enough homes for all the animals. While ten thousand humans are born everyday, 70,000 puppies and kittens are born. The only way to keep the pet population under control is to spay and neueter.
Spaying or neutering one dog saves 67,000 lives in six years if two survive each litter. Spaying or neutering one cat saves 420,000 lives in seven years if two survive from each litter.
So many well-meaning people have been feeding stray cats for months, or even years, and then seem surprised when kittens appear. It then turns into a never-ending vicious cycle… So if you encounter a stray cat – what should you do?
Simply feeding a stray cat and letting it go on its way is not doing much of a kindness to the cat – or the cat population in general. If you don’t help the poor creatures, chances are, nobody else will, and before you know it a small problem will mushroom into a big one – in your neighborhood – in your yard.
If you are able to catch the cat, and/or kittens, adopt and care for it – wonderful. Of course even in-door cats with homes should be spayed or neutered. It is the best thing you can do for their health. Please click HERE to find out the top 10 reasons why you should spay/neuter your pet.
If you catch it but are unable to give the cat, or kittens, a home yourself, please try to find a home elsewhere. Bobbi and the Strays may even be able to help if you are able to keep the cat (even a dog, kitten, puppy) in your own home while a permanent home is being sought. We can then help get the word out that this animal needs a home. (Please note that Bobbi and the Strays is not equipped to handle feral cats. We are a “no kill” rescue group and currently only have temporary space.)
You can also call animal shelters and rescue groups in your area until you find one that will accept the cat. Be persistent and patient, realizing that all shelters and rescue groups are overwhelmed by the enormity of the stray dog and cat overpopulation problem.
No one wants to admit that they may be contributing to the plight of homeless animals – certainly not the kind-hearted animal lover who always leaves food out for the neighborhood strays. Streets, shelters, and alleys are filled with too many “unwanted animals” whose only crime was being born in the first place. PLEASE do not allow the cycle to continue.
If you are unable to easily catch and find the cat a home or simply cannot face the reality that some shelters who would accept the cat may have no choice but to humanely euthanize it, and you feel you must then leave the cat outside – then at the very least please GET THE CAT SPAYED OR NEUTERED and bring an end to the miserable cycle known as the “kitten factory”.
Several groups can help you “Trap, Neuter, & Release” (TNR). They will provide information on low-cost or even free spay/neuter clinics and may even assist you with catching feral cats and kittens. Please click here for information on local spay/neuter clinics and TNR programs.
You can even help spay & neuter homeless puppies, dogs, cats, and kittens by becoming a Bobbi and the Strays Pet Guardian and sponsoring our spay/neuter program. This very important program will help all of the animals that come into our care – and help keep more strays off of the streets and out of shelters too! Please click HERE to find out more about this very important program.
And if you already have pets of your own, it is much better for their heath to have them spayed and neutered. It also helps keep unwanted animals off of the streets and out of shelters too! Please click here for great reasons to spay and neuter your pets. At the bottom of that page – there is a link to some great resources for free or low-cost spay and neuter programs too.
A kindness is NEVER wasted, although it can be misplaced. Please make sure YOUR kindness is in the proper place. : – )
Tags: adoption, cat, danger, euthanasia, homeless, kitten, nueter, pet population, problem, release, solution, spay, spring, stray, trap
Hi Amanda,
Sadly, I am sure that shelters around the world probably experience the same thing. Keep up the good work – we are making a difference!
Feel free to also use/post our blog (or pieces of it) as you see fit. We have no problem with anyone using it as their own – as long as it helps get the word out. : – ) The more people know – the more it can only help.
Good Luck!
Hi,
you provide some very useful info- thanks!
We are having the same problem at our shelter in Victoria, it’s a sad and unnecessary truth re too many kittens. I agree with Elcoj, with everybody’s pitch-in, we could actually start to get desexing mandatory! I love cats, and they deserve a lot more attention than what they’re getting!!
many thanks,
Amanda
ps we also have a twitter account if anyone wants to know more about CPS, i would love to hear your thoughts re desexing and cats in general! follow catprotection.
have a nice weekend everyone!
There is some very usefull information here , thanks. Hope others read it and do something.
I wish I had found your site sooner. Thanks for making me think about things a little differently.
Each person must live their life as a model for others.
It is high time that people that think they are doing good by feeding – and breeding – strays get a wake-up call to actually make positive change in the lives of strays and overpopulation.
Poor little strays. I hate to see them but feel sorry and sometimes I have fed a stray or two. Poor little things. But if I see any in my neigborhood I will be sure to call someone to help so that I don’t have to see even more strays.
Thanks for providing the links to the site where to get free spay services. Hopefully people will look at the links and get that info.
I just thought I’d add that by participating in the Guardian Program and choosing “Medical” or “Food” as your donation destination, you can also help the kittens currently in Bobbi’s care.
I am fostering four adorable kittens that are on formula and they have already eaten $100 worth of formula in just one week in addition to needing items such as litter and canned food. They’ve also been to the vet because of a respiratory infection and at that time they were dewormed, treated for fleas and sent home with antibiotics.
Often people don’t understand that it is very expensive to raise kittens, and that there is a lot of intensive care involved on the part of the fosters who, when the kittens are very small, are required to feed them around the clock for a few weeks, just as you would a human infant. There are success stories and stories of heartbreak because kittens are delicate creatures.
Any contributions through the Guardian Program to care for the many kittens in Bobbi’s care would be greatly appreciated.
I was never aware that such a problem really exixtsed. I was one of those well-meaning people that fed the stray cats until I read this article.
I looked at the list of TNR and spay/neuter clinics you provided and I will be trapping, neutering, and spaying.
Thank you so much for including that very good list. It was quite helpful. Wish me luck.
Great info – now if only everyone would pitch in – we could really help with the Stray Kitten Season…
Have a nice day
Elcoj