My Billings Gazette

It will be interesting to see if the Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter (YVAS) and local rescue groups will be involved in the campaign, and to see if they can get creative to promote pet adoption in our local shelters.

As part of its ongoing effort to promote cat and kitten adoption, American Humane created Adopt-A-Cat Month(R). Adopt-A-Cat Month is held annually in June, when shelters around the country are inundated with litters of kittens in desperate need of loving homes. Adult cats as well are high in numbers in shelters across the country.  The event encourages cat adoptions from shelters, promotes the benefits of owning a cat and informs the public about how to care for their pets responsibly.

So, come on, Billings shelters, let's see what you can do!

Like this AZ Humane Society, offering half-off adoption fees throughout the month of June.

Or, this LA shelter takes it one step further, $1 adoption fee for the entire month of June.

Or this creative effort from a KS shelter, "pay what they weigh", if the pet weighs 10 pounds, for example, the adopter would pay $10.

And not to be outdone, the example by this shelter in FL, will waive adoption fees entirely, on adult cats 1 year and older, and reduce fees significantly for kittens, throughout the months of June, July and August!  They explain that they "want to save more lives and adult cats are the animals most at risk of not being adopted in shelters when there are so many kittens available".

To potential adopters:  Please, make sure you are ready and prepared in advance before considering adopting! 

*  Do you own or rent your home?  Some landlords prohibit pets, please check with landlords before adopting.  Some landlords will work with you if you provide a deposit for the pet(s).

*  Do you have enough space in your home?  Studio apartments or very small apartments may not be suitable for more than two or three cats, they require sufficient space to romp, play and exercise.

*  Know your limit.  Can you afford food, toys, a scratching post, and above all, veterinary care and unforseen emergency care?  Dedicate money to your pet's veterinary care fund monthly so that you are never without funds in the event of an emergency.  Consider pet insurance.

*  Do you have a newborn child or very young children?  Some pets are not suitable for young children, and children must be supervised, trained to respect the pet(s).  Don't expect young children to fulfil the duties of cleaning, feeding, walking, playing with the pet.  Pets are NOT novelty items!

*  Have you kitten/cat-proofed your home?  Just as with small toddlers, make your home safe for your pet(s).  Keep electrical cords covered and out of the way, keep miniblinds/cords out of reach, keep plants out of reach, keep people medicines out of reach, keep chemicals, toxins and other hazardous substances out of reach, do not feed human foods to pets.

*  Can you dedicate time every day to enrich the life of your pet(s)?  Playtime, activities, bonding, quality time spent with your pet are essential for your pet's well-being and health.

*  Does someone in your home have allergies?  See your physician to persue testing to ensure you or your family member is not allergic to pet dander.  Too often, pets are relinquished to shelters because owners or their children suddenly "develop" an allergy.  Many times, the allergen is not due to the pet, but other sources in the environment.

*  Are you familiar with feline health care and behavior issues?  Far too often, owners don't recognize subtle or obvious changes in their pets that are oftentimes resolved with a veterinary checkup or additional testing to determine the source of the problem in which to treat quickly and effectively.  Be familiar with feline health care and behavior and when you need to see your vet.  Early care and prevention is the key.

This is by no means a complete list, but it is a general list of things you should know before adopting a pet. 

Are you ready?  If you're perpared and ready, why not adopt in pairs?  Cats tend to live longer and are healthier with a feline companion.  Also consider adopting an older cat, many older cats have already been housebroken and understand simple household rules, and will make wonderful pets and companions.

Which appears to be good news.

Until you actually read the study.

The take home message is that while this is a positive finding in terms of successful S/N rates and in terms of responsible pet ownership, the costs are often prohibitive for many well-meaning lower income families.  Additionally, the following citation from Alley Cat Allies brings the message closer to home:

"When looking at the neuter rates of cats in U.S. households, it is important to remember that pet cats represent only a part of the entire U.S. cat population. Scientists estimate that there may be as many stray and feral cats in the United States as there are cats living in people’s homes. In contrast to the high neuter rate of pet cats, the most comprehensive research to date indicates that less than 3% of stray and feral cats are neutered.

[A]ny attempts to increase the proportion of neutered cats in the United States must include stray and feral cats.”

BETHESDA, Md., May 27 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Association reports that the vast majority -- at least 80% -- of pet cats in U.S. households are neutered, with middle-to higher-income households reporting rates of over 90%.

The peer-reviewed study, based on data collected for the national nonprofit organization Alley Cat Allies by Harris Interactive, Alley Cat Allies by Harris Interactive and analyzed by Alley Cat Allies using a rigorous statistical approach, is the first nationally representative study to thoroughly examine household income as it relates to the neuter status of pet cats.

"This study indicates that spaying and neutering is an accepted, established practice among the large majority of Americans with pet cats," said Becky Robinson, president of Alley Cat Allies. "This is a very positive finding. As a result, our nation's pet cats are living much healthier lives."

The study found that family income was the strongest predictor of whether house cats are neutered. In households earning $35,000 or more annually, 93% of cats were neutered, compared to 51% of cats in households earning less than $35,000. While both income groups reported a majority of their pet cats to be neutered, the disparity underscores a challenge long observed by Alley Cat Allies, said Robinson.

"Up until now, there has been a lot of speculation that income is a barrier for neuter in lower-income families, but now we have a scientific study establishing that this is the case nationally," Robinson said.

"It is also critical to point out that household cats represent only part of the total U.S. cat population," said Wendy Anderson, director of law and policy for Alley Cat Allies and a co-author of the study.

"Previous research has shown there may be just as many stray and feral cats in the U.S. as pet cats, and most of these cats are intact and breeding. We need to enact smart policies and programs that expand the availability of low-cost, high-volume spay and neuter services, not only to serve lower-income pet owners, but to provide services for feral cats as well," Anderson said.

The study ("Population Characteristics and Neuter Status of Cats Living in Households in the United States," J Am Vet Med Assoc 2009; 234:1023-1030) consisted of 1,205 respondents across the continental U.S., contacted by telephone and selected via random-digit dial methodology. Following completion of the data collection, respondents were weighted for region, age, gender, education, income, race and ethnicity to ensure a sample representative of the U.S. population.

Based on the nationally representative sample, the study concluded that there are approximately 82.4 million pet cats in the United States, living in a total of 36.8 million households. One third of these households reported adopting at least one of their cats as a stray.

Additional information about the study, including a link to the article abstract and related images, can be found at www.alleycat.org/research.

About Alley Cat Allies

Alley Cat Allies is dedicated to saving lives of cats, advocating TNR for feral and stray cats, and advocating humane care for cats. Their web site is http://www.alleycat.org/.