Every day, thousands of kittens are born to family pets, stray cats living on the streets and community (feral) cats. These kittens can get pregnant as early as five months old, producing more kittens and continuing the cycle. The result? Too many cats and not enough homes for all of them.
Take action to help cats in your community
Your voice and actions matter. Watch the video below to learn how you can help prevent cats in B.C. from suffering:
Steps you can take:
- Talk to your family, friends and neighbours about the importance and benefits of spaying and neutering.
- Make sure your animal has a microchip as permanent identification and your registration information is up-to-date.
- Send a letter to your mayor and council to request spay/neuter funds for your area.
- Organize a team of volunteers to distribute brochures around your community.
- Volunteer to help with transporting a cat who needs spay/neuter surgery.
- Help build a community cat shelter.
- Donate to cover the cost of a cat spay or neuter.
- Tell family, friends and neighbours about the risks of allowing cats outdoors.
- Share our infographic to help inform others of the pet overpopulation problem.
Here are six BC SPCA initiatives addressing the issue and promoting spay/neuter:
- Providing grant funding for community cats: Rescues, veterinarians, municipalities and First Nations communities are able to apply for funding to address cat overpopulation in their area.
- Running large scale spay/neuter projects: Since 2013, we’ve launched eight projects in areas with cat overpopulation. We’ve been able to target more than 7,000 cats thanks to generous grants from PetSmart Charities™ of Canada.
- Operating veterinary clinics: These clinics prioritize spaying and neutering pets. They provide either no-charge or discounted spay/neuter services for feral cats and discounted prices for pets of financially disadvantaged and First Nations guardians.
- Working with community partners: With the help of veterinary partners, municipalities, regional districts and granting organizations, we’re able to provide low-cost spay/neuter programs across the province. Need financial assistance to fix your pet? Find a list of B.C. cat spay/neuter funds available.
- Helping municipalities take action: Some B.C. municipalities have established spay/neuter funds for low-income residents. These funds have reduced shelter intake in communities where they’ve been implemented.
- Offering youth and public education: Messaging on the importance of spaying and neutering is worked into our humane education programs for youth in schools, and to the public through awareness programs.