There are more cats than there are families with room in their homes for them. Lots more. The ASPCA estimates there are 70 million stray cats in the United States alone. 3.4 million enter animal shelters every year, and 41% never come back out again. Yet more unwanted kittens are born every day.
No one wants to see 1.4 million cats die in shelters every year, but what can we do about it? The most effective way to combat overpopulation is by spaying and neutering cats. In other words, making them sterile so they won’t continue to reproduce and have kittens that there aren’t loving families to adopt.
Cats who are spayed and neutered live longer, healthier lives, too. Both spayed and neutered cats are less likely to roam far from home, making them less likely to be hit by a car or lost. Neutered male get into fewer fights with other cats, and they are less territorial, meaning their drive to spray in the house to mark territory is reduced or eliminated. They also can’t get certain kinds of cancer, like testicular cancer. Female cats, once spayed, are protected from ovarian and uterine cancer, and mammary cancer chances are reduced if the spay is performed before the cat goes into heat the first time. And of course, spayed female cats can’t have unwanted kittens.
World Spay Day is tomorrow, and it is a chance to help raise awareness of the importance of spay and neutering of cats both here in the US and abroad. Many people know they should spay or neuter their cat but don’t think they can afford it, but this is a great chance to let them know that there are lots of resources out there for reduced cost and even subsidized programs for spay and neuter.
Do you need to direct someone to a reduced cost spay/neuter clinic? This tool helps you find them in the US. We can all be part of the solution by helping spread the word about how to avoid contributing to pet overpopulation.
Reference and further reading:
ASPCA, Shelter intake and surrender, Pet statistics
Photo credits:
flickr creative commons, abcrumley and ncfc0721
wikimedia commons, Radevormwald
Paws up for World Spay Day! I hope humans take notice.
AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH for sure spay or neuter.
Ohhhh no my pimple isn’t from face marking. It is from an ingrown new whisker. However, if I had not been doing it so much mom would not have felt it on her hand and there would have been no UNPLANNED trip to the Vet
Hugs madi your bfff
We’re sorry you’ve got a sudden visit to the v-e-t from an ingrowing whisker – we hope it isn’t too ouchie Madi.
Luv Hannah and Lucy xx xx
Excellent info! We wish all humans would pay attention so there would be fewer homeless kitties.
The Florida Furkids
The most important message to be spread!!!
Definitely a most important day!
It’s wonderful that there are so many reduced cost spay/neuter clinics today. One of our local shelters offers a subsidized spay/neuter mobile clinic in underserved areas. They eve offer low-cost vaccinations at the same time. 🙂
Thanks for such an impawtant post Miss Julie. You know I am making this my Paw It Forward project for community cats
Very impawtant reminder! Paws up!
I would give anything is all kittens were spayed . There would always be the ones who aren’t but of most were, oh how happy all of them would be. It hurts my heart to see the suffering.
guys…984 PAWS UP for thiz post….letz hope it getz red by everee one, N followed thru bye all ~~~~~ ♥♥♥♥
We sure wish all humans would board this bandwagon, or at least purchase a ticket.
The message is so important ! Paws up !
Thank you for posting this important message! Paws up all around!
This is so very important.
We don’t understand why people don’t spay/neuter their pets. There are affordable ways for them to do so.
Great post! I will share that tool to find a low cost place.
Great info as usual. Dunno if it’s still true but in the old days men didn’t like getting their male cats fixed cos it was a macho thing. That’s why TW had to catnap George’s cats and get them fixed.
Yes, let’s spread this message far and wide. Education is the only way to change cultural stereotypes.
So important. It breaks my heart that so many kittens are born just to die…
Neuter your cats people.. Neuter someone else’s cat.. donate money to neuter a stray cat..
Thank you for spreading the word! This is so important for humans to know. We hope the message gets to millions.