Want To Really Help Cats In 2010? Fund Spay/Neuter

"My parents and I discovered a stray/feral cat in the summer of 08 and have since been feeding him twice daily and have set him up with a shelter under a covered table against the house with a few comfy beds, a covered litter box that houses the deepest bed and a scratch pad (yes he is now very spoiled)."

“We have since discovered that a few other neighbors also feed him twice daily. We have also been noticing a few other little hutches set up around here, although we do not know if he is the only (cat) in the area. We have built up a relationship with him to the point that he lets us pet him, even when eating, and often comes out and insists on being petted.”

“My question is how do we “winterize” him? He disappeared for a few days last winter -- we assumed to a garage but we don’t know – when it was bitter cold. But I’m still wondering if there is a better/healthier way for him. I live near my parents and considered bringing him to may apartment over night and bringing him back during the day – although I don’t want to traumatize him at all. If you have any ideas, or think this would be a healthy option, please let me know.”

What makes this story so unique is that it’s so common. I could easily have scripted the content from the many phone calls and e-mails we’ve received over the years. Although the media broadcasts stories for old-guard animal organizations on how short and miserable the lives of outdoor cats are, the people we hear from paint this very different view. Many outdoor cats – feral and stray – have someone – and many have more than one someone -- providing them with food and outdoor shelter. A special bonding develops between these cats and their caregivers.

Animal organizations would like us to believe that outdoor cats need rescuing – their donations depend on it. Nothing opens up purse strings more than anecdotes about emaciated cats being given to a shelter for loving care and placement in a good indoor home. That’s a simple concept – and who wouldn’t want to contribute money to such a humane cause? But the reality is more complex -- when outdoor cats are given to shelters for “protection and adoption” they all too often killed after being declared “unadoptable”. The majority of shelter adoptions are not of adult stray or feral cats, but of very young cats and kittens that are well socialized to people. Shelter euthanasia is the leading cause of death for stray and feral cats.

It’s more complex to grasp the concept that leaving cats in their outdoor homes is not only more humane but is also more effective -- provided it’s coupled with free -- or at least affordable -- spay/neuter. Because this concept is more complex, donations for cat spay/neuter are much harder to attain than for sheltering.

Without adequate funding, spay/neuter programs aren’t able to pro-actively work on the problem of cat overpopulation. But think of it. If there were free spay/neuter clinics, most caregivers would choose sterilization over relinquishment of the cats that come their way. No one likes to give a cat to a shelter. But, dealing with unsterilized cats – living outdoors or indoors – is doomed to failure. The ongoing litters, the fighting, spraying and yowling of intact cats – are more than even dedicated caregivers can handle long-term.

With free spay/neuter everyone wins – the caregiver keeps their cats, the cats gets three squares a day, and the community gets many fewer kittens to place each year. And those cats that are truly in need of rescue can be adopted out more effective by no-kill cat rescue groups with foster-home networks. So in 2010 if you truly want to help cats, put your money where it will do the most good – into solving the problem of cat overpopulation through pro-active spay/neuter – not trying to simply put a band aid on it.

Peace On Earth Good Will To Cats

Although we traded in our shelter on a pro-active cat spay/neuter program several years ago, our Foundation is still listed on a lot of web sites as a cat rescue. Calls and e-mails continue to reach us asking us if we have room for more cats. This year – as in the past – these calls and e-mails seemed to spike around holidays – in particular the Christmas holidays.

To someone who loves her cats as much as I do, I find it particularly depressing to think that many cat caregivers actively spend their holidays trying to relinquish their cats – too often after they’ve passed the age of “adoptability”. “What are they thinking of?” I wonder. “Didn’t they realize that a pet relationship – like a human relationship – has to be for “better or worse?" At least with human relationships, the consequence of separating is manageable. Life goes on. But, what’s a 10-year old cat going to do when you decided she no longer fits your life plan? The hard truth is the cat will probably be killed.

Oftentimes the people will start out their request with a disclaimer. They really hadn’t adopted the cat – but rescued her – five to ten years earlier. If it hadn’t been for them, the cat would have died.

They saved her life. But now she no longer amuses them or has a chronic illness or behavioral issue – or they have a dog or another cat (that they did adopt) – that doesn’t get along with her. And so on. I find these calls juxtaposed with the meaning of Christmas “Peace on Earth” downright depressing.

Perhaps that is why this recent e-mail below seemed so special. It’s the flip side of those distressing phone calls and e-mails – depicting the warmth and love so many people – in fact the majority -- have for their cats – whether they “rescued” or “adopted” them:

“My Boyfriend and I live together and there had been some cats that lived at a house where he worked. The cats were getting too expensive so they were looking to get rid of them and my boyfriend fell in love with this very friendly one. So we brought him home and he adjusted well to inside life, he was very friendly and would cuddle with us at night.

Then we had to travel a little bit (by car) and didn't know anyone we trusted enough to take care of him so we brought him along. He did not like the car but we didn't keep him in the cat carrier and after a while he would settle down and just sleep with me.

We took him to 2 different houses on our trip. The first one had a dog but the cat never saw the dog and just stayed in the room we were staying. The second house has three adult male neutered cats. We let him meet a couple of the cats and he got slightly aggressive but he didn't go out of his way to be aggressive.

Anyway, now that we have him home he is not the same. He won't come when we call, he isn't very affectionate. I thought maybe it was because he missed going outside so I bought a harness and lead and took him outside yesterday. He enjoyed being outside but he was scared by any noise. He just isn't the same anymore. If I pick him up and lay him on me he will stay. He purrs when I pet him, but he used to come up to us all the time and want attention. Now he just sleeps all day and doesn't want anything to do with us unless we have food or we make him lay on us. I'm afraid that we made him an inside cat way too quickly. Is there anything you would suggest that we do?”

Frankly I was very taken by the genuine love the couple have for their new-found friend – taking him with them on their trips – getting him a leash and harness so he could still safely enjoy the outdoors – concern that he no longer seeks attention.

Although I’m not a cat behaviorist, I’ve taken in a lot of cats and the pattern they described is one we often observed. Relinquished adult pet cats start off extremely needy – when you first give them a home they follow you around like a little puppy dog craving your time and attention. Then, once they realize you’re not going to leave them and that they have a permanent home, they go back to being cats. Doing what a cat does best – sleeping. Sure they still enjoy your attention and will purr when you offer it, but cease to be as demanding of your time. They know you’re there, you love them and give them nice sleep spots and plenty of food– all they want to do is enjoy the moment and take frequent cat naps to dream about how happy and secure you’ve made them.

All you have to do is be there for them -- they'll purr and cuddle when you seek their attention -- but will fall into a daily routine. That's what makes cats so easy to care for. And that's why your long-term commitment is so important. All they want is a bowl of food, a nice bed and someone -- you -- to love for the rest of their life. Merry Christmas!