Cat Welfare
Overview
In too many communities, shelters are overwhelmed with cats and kittens. Some are the result of accidental litters, while others lost their homes due to behavior problems their owners didn’t know how to resolve. Still others are feral or community cats with little chance at adoption.
Outdoor Cats
Population estimates vary widely, but outdoor cats are found in almost every urban neighbourhood across Canada. These cats include community cats—friendly stray or abandoned cats as well as feral (unsocialized) cats—and owned cats let outside to roam and reproduce. Tens of millions of unowned cats live outdoors and usually rely on people to provide them with food and shelter. Understanding the complex and emotional issues relating to outdoor cats is essential to combatting cat overpopulation and keeping cats and wildlife safe and healthy.
Misconceptions About Outdoor Cats
Cats roam outside in most neighbourhoods in the United States. Some are pets whose owners let or put them outside, but many are community cats who may be feral or one-time pets now stray, lost or abandoned. The more we understand outdoor cats and the complicated issues related to them, the more effectively we can help them, reduce cat overpopulation and protect wildlife.
Common Ground for Cats and Wildlife
With determination, innovation and collaboration, cat-wildlife conflicts can be humanely resolved by implementing and sustaining effective programs. The ultimate goal is to dramatically and humanely reduce the number of cats outdoors, leading to much less risk and harm to the cats, no predation of birds and wildlife and the elimination of potential public health concerns and nuisance-related issues.
Support our Spay and Neuter Clinic Efforts
Help us provide valuable veterinary care in remote Northern communities in Canada.
Discover More
Why You Should Spay or Neuter Your Pet
The choice to spay or neuter your pet may be one of the most important decisions you make impacting their long-term health—and your wallet!
Declawing Cats: Worse Than a Manicure
People often mistakenly believe that declawing their cats is a harmless “quick fix” for unwanted scratching.
Managing Cat-Wildlife Conflicts
With a mission to protect all animals, Friends of HSI stands on common ground with those who care about both cats and wildlife.