Kitten Season Is Here In Full Force...So What Does That Mean For Us?

So people are telling you that it's "kitten season".  What is that exactly?  Well about twice a year rescues and shelters are inundated with kittens and pregnant cats because unaltered cats are mating and having babies.  Seems pretty benign doesn't it, but if you think that just two cats (one male and one female) can have over 100,000 cats in a 7 year period then it might not seem so benign.  Then think that those 100,000 cats are having over 100,000 kittens who are in turn having over 100,000 kittens in 7 year periods of time.  That's a lot of cats that need homes, are going to shelters or rescues, are left outside to fend for themselves and potentially being abused or killed, or being euthanized in shelters to make room for the other animals being dropped off because the people don't know what else to do with them.

So what can we as humans do?  Well the best thing to do is alter your cats (spay/neuter).  This does a couple of things for the cat.  It not only prevents more babies that nobody has room for but it also exponentially lowers the possibility of cancer.  I know it sounds strange but it is true.  I have heard a number of vets tell me this very thing.  Here's a link from the ASPCA verifying this information:

http://www.aspca.org/pet-care/cat-care/spay-neuter.aspx

Another things we humans can do is adopt from the shelters and rescue organizations rather than buy from breeders.  I'm not saying not to buy from breeders at all; however, there are a lot of unsavory breeders out there so if you do get your pet from a breeder please do your homework and don't just go for the cheapest price because there is a reason for the low price more than likely.  Even when adopting you should do your homework prior to taking your pet home so it really is no different.

If there are stray cats in your area then there are organizations who will manage the "colony" or will work with you if you are willing to feed the cats in order to spay/neuter the animals to keep the population manageable and show you how to make shelters, etc.  It's not as hard as you might think.  Here is a link to a great resource:

http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/HOW_TO_MANAGING_A_FERAL_CAT_COLONY

This is one type of feeding station for a feral cat colony.

We will probably never stop the cycle but that is what rescue people work towards.  What we humans can do to help is to spay and neuter the ones that are there and not only will it help slow the cycle but it will help the animals' health as well which is always a good thing. 

For those of you who haven't spayed or neutered your personal cats, talk to your vet about the consequences about that medically.  There are more pros than cons for having the surgery done and there are lots of low cost options around as well.  I'm sure your vet or local shelter can help you find one that is available to you.

Kittens are cute but they grow up and become adults.  Lets start looking at and talking about responsible pet ownership.  Educate the people around you because the people who read this blog and other blogs are already responsible pet owners.

As always, we welcome questions, comments and any topic you'd like to see discussed here.  Don't forget to follow us on Twitter and Facebook and tell your family and friends about us!  Thanks so much for reading.

TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) and Feral Colonies: Are They Good For The Neighborhoods?

The term TNR (trap, neuter, return) has been around for quite some time and rescuers have been doing this for just as long or longer to help control the feral cat population.  What is a feral cat?  These cats are ones that cannot be touched by humans and do not like humans.  They normally will not come up to you but may watch from afar.  These cats can only be caught with humane traps in order to be spayed/neutered and then re-released back where they were caught.  It is important they are put back where they were trapped because introducing a feral cat into a new colony is nothing like introducing a new cat into a household.  The hierarchy is extremely different and there will be fights for this hierarchy.  Life threatening injuries can occur during these fights as well so it is just best to put them back where you found them.

Once the colony is established these cats will help control the mouse and bug population as well as some snakes.  If these cats are taken away the rodents, bugs and snakes will come into your area and you will have problems with them.  The cats go where the food is so if there is a colony then chances are there are mice.

The picture to the right is a cat in a humane trap.  The animal is not harmed in any way.  These cats are scared, confused and will strike out at you when you come close so you will need to be extremely careful.  Placing a towel over the trap can help them feel safer because cats like tight places to hide in to feel safe. 

Once this cat is neutered then recovery time will need to happen.  This only requires a day for boys and a couple of days for girls depending on the vet's suggestions.  Once this time is over, the cat can then be taken back to the place where he/she was trapped and released.  This is also a time to be cautious and stand to the back of the trap and make sure the cat doesn't try to come around the trap to get to you.  Most of the time they just want to get away from you and will run away. 

Here are a couple of good links for information regarding TNR and feral cats.

http://www.neighborhoodcats.org/HOW_TO_WHAT_IS_TNR

http://www.aspca.org/adoption/feral-cats-faq.aspx

Some rescue organizations will adopt out what they call "barn cats" which is basically a semi-feral cat that doesn't necessarily like humans but relies on them for some food but will control the mouse population in a horse barn, for example.  It is a great way to keep the cats safe from the various dangers such as cars, mean spirited people, etc. as well as solve a problem for people who may have a mouse problem in their horse barns.  If you are even considering an outdoor only cat this may be the way to go for you and something you might want to consider.  These cats are very outdoor savy as opposed to those who have never lived outdoors or who have grown VERY accustomed to living indoors and prefer the indoor life.

If you have stray cats around your area please contact your local shelter or rescue organization for ideas on TNR programs or organizations in your area because there are likely options for you and keep in mind they are there because there is a food source that you might be glad they are controlling.

As always thank you for reading our blog and your questions and comments are welcome.  If you have a desired topic please let us know and don't forget to tell your friends and family about us.  Follow us on Twitter and Facebook too!