Pet Ownership is a Responsibility!!
Pet ownership is a lifetime commitment and a responsibility that should not be taken lightly. When a cat is adopted, it should be with the understanding that this is a commitment for the life of the cat. If this is not your intent or if you feel you won’t be able to financially afford the care of the cat for 12 to 15 years, then DON’T ADOPT A CAT... Instead, consider volunteering your time at a local shelter and give the cats waiting there for a permanent home some love and attention.
Abandoned and Feral Cats
Free roaming and abandoned cats are a major problem in Brevard County. Once abandoned, the cat becomes frightened and leery of humans and then reverts to a wild (feral) state. Many cat owners fail to have their cats altered. When they are allowed to roam or are abandoned, they begin breeding, adding to the feral cat population. According to the Brevard County Animal Services (BASE) website, in FY 2001, 8,206 cats that were turned into County Shelters were euthanized, so we know there are not enough good homes for all of the adoptable cats already out there.
Another factor, adding to the feral cat population, is owners who fail to spay/neuter their cats and then allow them to roam freely outdoors. Outdoor cats live shorter lives because of automobile accidents, parasites, and other feline diseases. If left un-sterilized, cats breed with other strays and ferals, adding to the overpopulation problem.
Why Numbers Increase
The American Humane Association estimates that a breeding pair of cats adds 12 cats t their population each year. After 10 years, the numbers multiply to 80,399,780.
Benefits of Spay/Neuter
The reasons for keeping cats indoors, spaying, and neutering them are compelling and well known. Besides preventing more unwanted kittens, spaying and neutering your cat prevents diseases and prevents many behavioral problems that occur in unaltered pets:
What You Can Do
If everyone in Brevard County became a responsible pet owner- keeping their cats indoors, sterilizing them, and no abandoning them- there would not be a feral cat problem in Brevard.
BE A PART OF THE SOLUTION, NOT THE PROBLEM.
SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR PETS AND KEEP THEM INDOORS.
=^..^= Thank you for helping the kitties!! =^..^=
