Help Stop Killing of Animals Through Spay and Neuter

Overpopulation of cats and dogs has become a big problem throughout the United States, and I'm sure it is also true in other countries. In this instance, we are going to look at the problem among cats. Kittens are so cute and cuddly, and when a litter is born, it seems everyone who looks at them wants one.

The big problem begins soon after that happens. Do the owners of the kitten have it checked for possible health concerns, and also have it neutered or spayed? If the kitten is a new-born, they must ask the veterinarian when it can be neutered or spayed, next they should take the kitten back to the veterinarian for that procedure when it is old enough. But do they make that second trip? Some do, but probably a lot of people tend to imagine their little kitten will always be that cute bundle of softness, and something to play with.

Spaying and neutering is extremely important in order to keep overpopulation of cats down. These cats have no owners, and are left to fend for themselves. Soon they gather in groups, called 'feral cats.' They have no home, so they live in the outdoors no matter what the weather. They often raid garbage cans, or kill birds and rodents for food. This is a sad situation, especially for a cat lover.

While living in New Mexico, the humane society there had a procedure that really worked. When someone adopted a cat or dog, they had to pay a fee of $40. This part of the deal worked well, because the person getting the cat or kitten was someone who really wanted the pet, and would be more willing to care for it correctly. But that's not all; when the cat or kitten was old enough to be spayed or neutered, any veterinarian in the town would spay or neuter them for free. Actually, the humane society would pay the vet the $40 at that time. I believe it really worked, as that is where I found my two wonderful tabbies that are still with me.

If you have a cat in your home as a pet that is not neutered/spayed, if you let them go outside, they will also contribute to the overpopulation of their species. Also, they may begin to howl and want outside, especially at night. Male cats are more likely to spray inside the house, and females do have menses (menstruation), where they leave marks on carpets, etc. If the female is allowed to go outside, she may come home pregnant.

I just received a flyer from the Tree House Humane Society in Chicago. There is a photo of a large, possibly older home where they take cats that are injured, sick, or just left to fend for themselves. This seems like a wonderful place, where they have veterinarians and assistants to care for those that are ill or injured. Therapy is also available for injured cats that have that need. They showed a few statistics such as: in the U.S. in 2007, nearly 19,000 homeless animals were killed in Chicago alone: 61% of them were cats. Although this represents a significant decrease over the past decade, there is still much to be done.

Remember, if you have a cat(s) that are not to be used for breeding, have them neutered or spayed. Help stop the overpopulation and euthanization of cats in the U.S.

Sources:

http://www.orato.com/home-family/importance-of-spaying-or-neutering-pets
Personal knowledge