Cat overpopulation

By Metro Creative

Millions of cats reside safely in people’s homes, but many more are stray, outdoor cats that make their living quarters in any spots where they can find shelter. These outdoor cats also mate with one another, producing litter upon litter of kittens that quickly lead to overpopulation.

The SPCA of York County says a single unspayed female cat can birth about 180 kittens in her lifetime, on average. Females have the potential to give birth three to four times per year.

Outdoor cats can be nuisances in neighborhoods, digging, urinating or defecating in people’s yards. They also may sleep under people’s cars or close to the engine to stay warm, where they are vulnerable to injuries, accidents or even death. Stray cats also may get into tussles with domesticated pets, leading to other injuries.

Controlling overpopulation of cats, which may end up in shelters and other facilities, often comes down to sterilization. People who have cats as pets are urged to keep them indoors at all times and to spay or neuter them. In regard to feral or stray cats, the Humane Society of the United States suggests a solution of TNR: trap, neuter, return.

TNR is a non-lethal way to deal with overpopulation to help improve the quality of life for cats. A growing number of animal welfare organizations have TNR programs and can connect people with the resources they need. To learn more about TNR and taming cat overpopulation, visit www.humanesociety.org.

— Metro Creative