Urgent call for help with cat overpopulation crisis

October 10, 2008

Animal Humane Society (AHS) is teeming with unwanted cats and kittens and has issued an urgent plea to the public to help with the feline overpopulation crisis by adopting a cat. The volume of stray cats and kittens coming to AHS has exploded this summer with nearly 10,000 felines coming in from June–September 2008. Year to date, AHS has received more than 16,000 cats. That is an increase of 6.4% over last year during the same time period. In 2007, AHS received a total 20,615 of cats.

In September alone, more than 2,300 cats were surrendered to AHS five facilities with hundreds now available for adoption. That’s an average of 76 cats arriving per day!

The longer breeding seasons, along with cats and kittens returning to AHS from foster volunteers, contributes to the high number of homeless felines. Weather trends of the past decade are worsening the problem of cat overpopulation. Warmer weather in spring and fall is increasing the number of litters being produced each year by cats that have not been spayed or neutered.

“We really need help from people considering getting a pet. There are nearly 400 cats at our five locations ready for adoption right now,“ says Janelle Dixon, CEO/President of AHS. “This is an urgent call to the community for help. Last year the community responded to our call for help by adopting more than 250 cats. We hope they’ll come out this year as well.”

AHS animals are already spayed and neutered before being available for adoption; saving extra veterinary costs as well as helping stop overpopulation. Adoptions fees for cats and kittens begin at $80 and include spay/neuter, microchipping and vaccinations.

Read more about the cat crisis in the Star Tribune.

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