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Needing a solution to the annual cat explosion
(by Guest Columnist - June 18, 2008)
By Suzanne Griffin and Herb Skovronek
Hope may spring eternally, but it’s kittens that spring eternally in the spring. The shelters are loaded with kittens. Occasionally, the mothers are there, too. This happens every spring.
Why? In a nutshell, because unspayed female cats and unneutered male cats are allowed to roam. Some are feral (wild) cats, but some are pets who have been allowed to roam “because it’s good for our cats to be out and around.” That’s simply not true and it’s not safe for the adults nor for kittens born under a shed or in a pile of scrap.
How can this situation be improved? From experience with dogs, we’ve learned to license our dogs and not let them run loose. Now we need to do the same for our pet cats. We’ve also learned that early neutering/spaying (of our pet dogs and cats) prevents unwanted litters, unwanted visitors to our homes, aggressive behavior, and a whole range of medical problems later in their lives.
Many towns now have a two-tiered licensing, with unneutered/unspayed dogs costing a few dollars more. Not nearly enough “more” in my opinion, but it is a start. All towns should consider a two-tiered licensing requirement for cats, as well. Wearing a collar and up-to-date tag also helps a lost cat (or dog) get back to the caretaker.
Surprisingly, many shelters do not take advantage of the “a cat in hand is worth two... three... or five in the bush” by requiring neutering/spaying at the earliest possible age. All adult cats and dogs should be neutered/spayed before adoption to new owners. Merely suggesting it to the new owners of kittens is just not enough; a much more extensive educational program should be provided when an animal is turned over to an adopter.
Charging a significant refundable deposit until proof of neutering is provided would go a long way to increasing neutering, particularly for kittens, as would follow-up reminder phone calls by shelter staff or volunteers.
The State of New Jersey does offer a reduced-cost program to encourage neutering, but it is often out of funds before the year’s crop of kittens reaches neutering age or participating veterinarians are fully booked. New owners often are unaware of alternative, low-cost spay/neuter programs offered by animal groups such as the People for Animals, Passaic Coalition, and Parsippany Animal Supporters Society. Local municipal shelters should provide adopters with a list of such alternatives before an animal leaves their care.
Then there are the feral or wild cats. These are cats that have lived on their own so long that they usually do not make good pets; many were born in the wild and have never known human contact. The females have free access to male cats and, based on the kitten population at the shelters, take full advantage of it!
There are citizens and animal welfare groups who devote time and effort to capturing feral cats, neutering or spaying them, providing necessary vaccinations, and returning them to their “home” environment to live their lives without further reproduction. This is the heart of the Trap, Neuter, and Release (TNR) program. When TNR is endorsed by a community and supported by animal control professionals, feral cat populations are reduced, animal control costs decreased, public health risks and complaints from residents diminished.
Township Animal Control Officers also experience less stress due to reduced euthanasia of completely healthy animals. TNR programs are currently showing success in communities such as Boonton, Atlantic City, Kinnelon and New York City. Although TNR doesn’t work in all situations, in properly evaluated areas, it is far more successful than traditional trap and kill methods.
In summary:
1. Two-tiered licensing for pet dogs AND CATS.
2. Responsible Pet Ownership - don’t allow your pets to free roam and encourage your neighbors to be responsible as well.
3. Early neutering or spaying for purchased and adopted pets.
4. Encourage and support TNR programs in your community by speaking up to your shelter staff and municipal government and requesting your community join other nearby towns that offer a TNR option to their residents.
5. Request that town officials require all animals that are old/healthy enough be spayed/neutered PRIOR to adoption from your municipal facility.
Suzanne Griffin, a resident of Boonton, is the president of the Parsippany Animal Supporters Society (PASS) and an advocate for Trap, Neuter, and Release programs for feral cats. Herb Skovronek is a retired scientist who devotes time to socializing shelter dogs and cats so that they are adoptable. He is the Dog Chairman for PASS. This article expresses the opinions of the authors and does not necessarily present the views of the Parsippany Animal Supporters Society. PASS can be reached at P.O. Box 5077, Parsippany, NJ 07054 and at www.Pass4Pets.org.
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