June is “Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat-Month”. Millions of cats/kittens lose their lives each year at animal shelters across the nation. Right now, as I write this post, thousands of these unfortunate homeless cats and kittens are being euthanized.
Why? There are variety of reasons with the number one being irresponsible owners allowing their cats to roam free and procreate. A kitten is able to get pregnant at six months of age. A mother cat who is nursing is able to get pregnant. A cat’s heat cycle occurs more than a female dog’s cycle which twice a year. Cats tend to have more babies in their litters than dogs.
Owners also relinquish ownership of their cats for various reasons. I find very few legitimate reasons to do so but the reality of the matter is that they do.
Some are dumped at shelters overnight while others are dumped in a box that is duct-taped shut near a cat rescue.
Is it no wonder that there is ALWAYS a surplus of cats and kittens at shelters or rescues.
Trust me when I say, one of the worst feelings I’ve ever experienced is holding a kitten or cat in my arms while it is injected with pink fluid from a syringe and watching this animal die before my eyes through no fault of its own. I can’t tell you how many times I told that cat or kitten that I loved him/her before it took its last breath. I needed them to know someone did love them here on earth. For me their lives were not in vain.
Be a responsible pet owner and get your cat or dog spayed and neutered. The sheer number of animals entering shelters is ever-increasing and putting a strain not only shelter’s budgets but on the staff.
If you find it in your heart to save a cat or kitten, visit your local animal shelter. I know the Animal Rescue League of Berks County is overrun with these wonderful feline creatures…waiting for you to give them a much-needed home and to take the burden off of the staff. The Humane Society is another viable option. One-by-One Cat Rescue is a no-kill cat rescue that adopts their cats at both PetSmarts in the Reading area. The Cat Shack, located in Trexlertown, is another rescue group that adopts cat and kittens. They are in need of foster homes as well.
I strongly urge you to save one of these lives from one of these rescue organizations. Please save a life and adopt!
Watch this video courtesy of American Humane about adopting a cat.