Did You Know?

• Over 70% of cats brought into animal shelter are killed (4500 in Seminole County in 2009).
• The leading cause of death of healthy cats and dogs is euthanasia.
• It costs between $130 to $150 of your taxes from animal control to capture, transport, house, kill and dispose of each unwanted cat and dog.
• Spayed and vaccinated outdoor cats can live a long and healthy life.
• Outdoor cats have no higher incidence of disease than indoor cats.
• Although some cats prey on smaller animals, humans are the #1 cause of wildlife depletion. Destruction of natural habitat due to man-made structures, poisons and pesticides, pollution and drought all greatly impact wildlife. The leading cause of death of song birds (30%) is flying into glass.
• Feral cats are fearful of humans, are not adoptable and are at home being outdoors. They should not be taken to animal control where they will be killed.
• It is a myth that newborn kittens should not be handled or the mother will abandon them. Kittens must be handled and socialized with humans as young as possible. It is difficult, if not impossible, to socialize kittens over 8 weeks of age that have never had human contact.
• There is no happy, safe “cat farm” where feral cats can go to live out their lives. The best and most humane option is to trap, neuter, vaccinate and return (TNVR) feral cats to where they were comfortable living.

Spay and Neuter your pets and the strays