Killing Cats

[Access]

No... there isn't enough owners out there who are willing to adopt. There are pleanty of owners out there. Pets are something like a 20 billion dollar industry... the number of people who buy pets from pet stores or breeders is huge. The amount that are educated and adopt is relatively small.

[suzy_99]

What I meant is that there isn't enough people who even want animals. You have to remember that some people are allergic, some don't like cats, and others just don't want any animals at all. So if you take away those people, there really isn't enough left to adopt all of the cats that currently need homes. Even if each person that has or wants a cat actually went out and adopted one, we would still have a crisis on our hands. Cats in shelters only make up a small portion of the actual number of cats that are in need of homes and it is unrealistic of us to believe that each person should have a cat or that people should have multiple cats. When I tell people the amount of animals I have I always get a strange look and they say something like "how can you handle that many animals?" or "doesn't your house stink?" So, out of all of the people who want a cat, you also have to take out the ones that don't like shelters or think they are too expensive (which I do....I usually just rescue strays or litters from strays), the ones that in my opinion are ignorant enough to go to a breeder or a pet store, and then what you have left is a relatively small number of people who will go and adopt a cat.

[Quiet Things]

I agree that adopting is a marvelous thing but think about it, it is often cheaper to buy a cat from a pet store than to adopt from your local RSPCA, that is the case in my area. I am fully aware that the RSPCA needs to make a profit to keep the animals healthy, maintained and presentable whereas the pet shop can afford not to. I would adopt a cat if I could but I just do not have the money. I imagine there are a lot of other people out there with the same thoughts. I have one cat, she has been spayed and she can roam where she likes as long as she comes in at night. Because it is at night that cats cause the most damage, they are nocturnal hunters and most native wildlife in Australia is nocturnal.
I think the means of spay/neuter and release is a terrific idea, notching the cats ear is also fantastic. It's not mutilation but a means of preservation. If you had to would you rather kill the fixed or the unfixed?
Have people considered promoting the idea of outdoor pet houses for cats? You build a similar structure to a bird avairy, making sure it is large enough for your cat to run about in, build levels so they can jump, and attach it to your house or have it independant. That idea has been floating around for many years but has never really taken off. It's a great way to give your cat outdoor time without having to watch them all the time, plus they are safe and so is the wildlife.
On to strays again, I have owned strays before, from striaght off the street. It took a long time to gain their trust but when I did it was worthwhile. However they would not come inside, they point blank refused and freaked if I took them inside for any reason (had to once, there was a baby bird on the ground) Neither were fixed, sadly though the female died of cancer, well was euthanised, and the male Harold, dissapeared. I would be devestated to think that Harold was shot by some cat hater weilding a gun.

[laura220]

Actually people do have cat runs these days, I do too. And I've seen alot..

[Quiet Things]

Thats awesome, but I've never met a person or seen any locally. I was just speaking from my experience. I wish I could build one but we are already spending too much on some chickens and will have to start saving again.