| Stray cats and kittens are a huge problem in a great | | | | but because of the overwhelming flow of unwanted |
| number of communities. Stray cats are forced to | | | | cats, room needs to be made. Animal control |
| fend for themselves in a habitat that isn't very | | | | angencies are forced to resort to euthanasia in order |
| friendly to homeless, domestic animals. When a cat is | | | | to allow incoming strays. |
| abandoned by it's owner it lacks the natural skills | | | | There several things that we, as animal lovers, can |
| needed to survive. This comes from many years of | | | | do to help with this sad situation. Most animal shelters |
| domestic breeding. Basically, cats are no longer the | | | | and animal advocate agencies accept donations. |
| wild animals that they were centuries ago. They no | | | | These donation are used for legal matters, helping |
| longer have their larger ancestor's primal instincts. | | | | push cat friendly legislation. Donated money is also |
| A cat becomes a stray when it is abandoned by it's | | | | used for expansions and upgrades to the shelters. |
| owner. This cat is now forced to fend for itself. In | | | | This may help increase the capacity of these buildings |
| many areas the stray cat population is so great that | | | | allowing them to hold a larger number of cats and |
| they are considered pests. Over time a stray cat's | | | | kittens without owners to care for them. The best |
| will breed and produce homeless kittens. Once these | | | | thing you can do to help these unfortunate felines, is |
| kittens grow into adult cats they are completely wild | | | | adopt one yourself. If you think that you'd be |
| and very unlikely to be adopted. If this problem isn't | | | | interested in adopting a cat in need, simply contact |
| closely controlled eventually the stray cat population | | | | your local animal shelter and make an appointment to |
| could grow to epidemic proportions. | | | | stop by and choose a wonderful new addition to |
| In order to control the unclaimed pet population, | | | | your home. |
| animal control agencies will catch any stray animal | | | | If we all do all part we can help control the over |
| without proper identification, a collar with tags, and | | | | population of and unnecessary death of innocent |
| bring them to the local animal shelter. To call it a | | | | cats. To find out about more ways that you may be |
| "shelter" is a bit deceiving, animal shelters will house | | | | able to help prevent animal cruelty, contact the |
| and care for these abandoned pets for a short while | | | | ASPCA via their website aspca.org. |