Cat overpopulation hits ‘crisis’ proportions

NEWS — The cat overpopulation has reached crisis proportions, says the B.C. SPCA.

“We have made significant progress in many areas of animal welfare in this province, but one issue that remains a serious concern in every community across B.C. is the staggering, and unacceptable, number of homeless cats who suffer and die tragic deaths because of human neglect,” said chief executive officer Craig Daniell.

He said a primary focus of the SPCA’s new five-year plan is to do something about it.

Craig said there are tens of thousands of homeless kittens and cats in B.C.

“Those abandoned and free-roaming cats are forced to fend for themselves outdoors, suffering from starvation, illness and inure, freezing temperature and predator attacks.”

He said 75 per cent of kittens born outdoors die before the age of six months. Those who survive live about two years, and produce letters of kittens that will face the same fate.

Daniell said the problem is preventable. The key steps communities can take include low-cost spay/neuter funds, introducing mandatory pet identification so stray cats can be returned to their guardians if lost and bylaws requiring 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.”

A key objective in the B.C. SPCA’s new strategic plan is to help create humane communities by offering greater support in areas such as education, cruelty prevention and advocacy, Daniell said.

That will include more investment in low-cost spay/neuter programs, expanding humane education programs, and recruitment of new constables.