Cats...cats...cats...cats...
by Constance Young

Felines: lithe-bodied, round-headed terrestrial carnivores with retractile claws, commonly called cats—are ubiquitous. Hardly a street or road in the Hudson Valley doesn't have at least one wandering neighborhood cat (some feral; others house cats on the prowl). Cats are wondrous, beauteous creatures and an inspiration to artists and poets. Nobody who has had a purring cat on his or her lap or pillow, or who has seen a dexterous cat batting a piece of cellophane around the room, will deny this. I should know; I have been living with dozens of rescued cats over more than 40 years. Each one is a microcosm of the universe—as the 19th century writer Henry Beston wrote in The Outermost House, animals are "other nations, caught with ourselves in the net of life and time, fellow prisoners of the splendour and travail of the earth."

With cats, too much beauty is not a good thing. Despite their elegance, charm and fascinating chicanery, their numbers belie their beauty. There are just too many cats in the United States—the consequence of the cat's ability to reproduce quickly and too little human effort to control the cat population.

Look at the offspring of a breeding pair of unaltered (not spayed or neutered) cats. Two cats will usually produce about two litters a year (with 2.8 kittens surviving per litter), for a 10-year breeding life. If none of the kittens are spayed or neutered, the first year there will be about 12 survivors; the third year, 382 cats; by five years, 12,680 new cats, and by nine years, 13,958,290 cats.

Since there are already an estimated 59 million cats currently living with U.S. families, there are not many more available homes. Cats who are not adopted may be abandoned or sent to shelters, where about 75% are ultimately killed. It is not a pretty story. According to the National Geographic News, feline experts now estimate that there are 70 million feral (or wild) cats living in the United States in addition to those living with families. Since most city and county animal control agencies are mandated to deal only with dogs, not cats, feral cats have remained untouched for decades. More recently, however, some national and local programs have begun providing free or low-cost spaying and neutering.

Neutering surgery in males is done using a small incision in the scrotum through which the testicles are removed. The female spaying operation is done with a small incision in the abdomen through which the uterus and ovaries are removed. Contrary to myth, spaying and neutering are not painful when performed by a qualified veterinarian under general anesthesia. Animals usually return to normal activity within 25 to 72 hours and discomfort is minimal. Altering animals also eliminates the risk of certain diseases, such as mammary and testicular cancer. Altered male cats are less likely to be killed by cars because they stray less from home. Neutered males also no longer spray to mark territory.

In this context, it's useful to remember: these facts: 1) for every human born, seven puppies and kittens are born; 2) every year 8 to 10 million dogs and cats are killed in U.S. shelters; 3) approximately 75% of all cats entering shelters are put to death.

Resources

Statewide: Contact the NYS Pet Population Control Program, Dept of Agriculture & Markets, (518) 457-3502 for the most recent list of vets participating in their Spay/neuter surgery program (cost: about $30).

Local: • Animalkind Inc., PO Box 902, Hudson, NY 12534, (518) 943-7654. • Columbia-Greene Humane Society, Hudson, (518) 828-6044. • Greene Animal Welfare Alliance, PO Box 209, Athens, NY 12015, (518) 945-3218. • Animal Emergency Fund, Saugerties NY, (845) 247-6211 (for residents of Ulster County, sponsors low cost spay/neutering including feral cats).

Nationwide: • Friends of Animals, 777 Post Road, Suite 205, Darien, CT 06820, (800) 321-7387, or (203) 656-1522 will provide discount certificates for spaying and neutering with participating vets nationwide. • Spay/USA, 2261 Broadbridge Ave, Stratford, CT 06614. (800) 248-SPAY or (203) 377-1116, www.spayusa.org, will provide names, phone numbers, and prices of services that have agreed to provide lower cost spay/neutering for cats in your local area.