National Cat Day on October 29 An Educational Opportunity
“Here’s a number that will blow your mind…,” begins Karen Rau, Marshfield Area Pet Shelter President during a recent chat about upcoming National Cat Day on October 29.
The nonprofit group is no stranger to felines. According to Rau, since April 2012, MAPS has taken in 630 cats.
“Ninety cats were surrendered to us and 540 were strays/abandoned,” she said. “We have microchipped more than 600 cats (this includes our adopted and current cats), and includes 92 private pets (cats).”
So far this year, the group has taken in 280 cats, 28 in the first half of October alone. Ignorance is bliss for many, but as MAPS volunteers in the trenches can attest- Marshfield has a serious stray cat problem. Sadly, the epidemic is a national issue.
“Our very sad reality is that millions of cats are euthanized every year in overcrowded shelters nationwide,” said Rau. “There simply are not enough homes for the millions of animals born into our saturated communities.”
Though the reality may be bleak, there is hope.
“It is everyone’s responsibility, every community’s responsibility, to help stop the pet overpopulation problem in their areas,” said Rau. “Overpopulation results directly from pet owners failure to spay and neuter.”
She added that there are many low-cost spay and neuter options available to pet owners, and she urges everyone to take advantage of these if needed.
“Local shelters such as MAPS are doing their best to facilitate the very high number of cats entering their facility everyday, but they cannot do this alone,” she said.
“It isn’t their fault- they are just doing what nature tells them to: reproduce. If we do not rescue and spay/neuter stray cats the population is going to boom,” said Kaitlin Loberg, MAPS Manager and Certified Veterinary Technician.
“Every cat deserves a nice big pillow in the sun in someone’s home,” she added. “Cats make great pets because they are pretty easy to take care of: feed, water, scoop litter, done! Also there is a type of cat out there for everyone- from an affectionate lap kitty to an independent lounger and every personality in between.”
She added that longer and happier cat lives are achieved by annual vet visits for vaccines and parasite preventatives, and microchipping so that when a pet is lost they can be returned home quickly and safely.
Here are some things everyone can do to combat pet overpopulation:
- Always spay and neuter your pets!
- Always adopt your pets from a legitimate shelter or nonprofit rescue group because these pets are already spayed/neutered and microchipped.
- Consider all the responsibilities and consequences of pet ownership before deciding to get a pet. Pet relinquishment contributes to the pet “overpopulation” issues at all shelters. Always make a lifetime commitment to your pet!
- Educate your children, friends, family members and co-workers about pet overpopulation, adoption and the importance of spaying and neutering.
- Donate to your local shelter to ensure they can continue their lifesaving work.
- How can you save 100 cats? Have ONE spayed or neutered. Help stop generations of suffering and overcrowding.
