UNWANTED FELINES FLOOD SHELTERS
Cats less likely to be reunited with owners
Pet owners who aren’t licensing their cats, or having them spayed and neutered, are contributing to an overpopulation of felines in animal shelters across the country.
Barbara Cartwright, chief executive of the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies (CFHS), said the “cat overpopulation crisis” is the most critical issue facing humane societies today, with shelters across the country at or near capacity. She said people tend to care for cats differently than they do for dogs, which results in more felines ending up at SPCAs or shelters.
“They’re less likely to receive veterinary care and less likely to have permanent ID, so they can’t get reunited with their owners,” Cartwright said, adding that stray cats aren’t typically noticed in municipalities as much as their canine counterparts.
Cartwright also said many families will surrender their cats to shelters after they move, have children or develop allergies.
The CFHS released a 69-page report on Canada’s cats on Tuesday that looks into the current state of cat welfare in Canada and what is being done to manage overpopulation. According to the report, there are about 4,357 cats without homes in Alberta alone. The report’s main recommendations include increasing access to affordable spaying and neutering, improving adoption rates and teaching responsible cat ownership.
Christy Thompson, the general manager of marketing and communication at the Calgary Humane Society, agreed that spaying and neutering is one of the best preventive measures against overpopulation.
The Calgary Humane Society currently houses about 335 cats and a total of 722 animals, Thompson said. That’s near capacity for the shelter, but Thompson said there is typically an influx of mother cats and kittens brought in during the spring.
With the number of cats available for adoption from humane societies, SPCAs and rescue shelters, there’s no reason for people to be buying cats, Cartwright said.
“There are cats in shelters right now, waiting, and we strongly advocate for adoption first to help those cats get a home,” she said.
According to Animal and Bylaw Services, there are about 51,000 licensed cats in Calgary. The city’s own shelter saw 947 cats pass through last year, with about half returned to their owners, said spokesman Sean Myers.