BCSPCA Craig Daniell says there are currently tens of thousands of homeless kittens and cats in B.C.

“These abandoned and free-roaming cats are forced to fend for themselves outdoors, suffering from starvation, illness and injury, freezing temperature and predator attacks.” He notes that 75 per cent of kittens born outdoors die before the age of six months. Those who survive live approximately two years, and during their short lives they produce litters of kittens who will face the same tragic fate.

The BC SPCA and other animal welfare groups have taken major steps to help communities reduce the number of surplus cats, explains Daniell, but much more needs to be done.

Daniell says the key steps communities can take to reduce the number of homeless cats include providing low-cost spay/neuter funds, introducing mandatory pet identification so that stray cats can be returned to their guardians if lost and bylaws that would require spaying and neutering of cats with outdoor access. “Promoting pet-friendly housing can also be a major factor in ensuring that more homeless cats can be adopted into loving families.”

Photo credit: Viktoria Haak