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Cats in Canada have been facing a serious overpopulation problem in most shelters across the country for the last few decades. Cats are more likely to come into a shelter than dogs, and often take longer to adopt out than their canine counterparts. Many people are not interested in adopting an older cat from a shelter, further contributing to the over population problem. Even though adult cats have a lot to offer prospective owners, many are passed over in favour of kittens.
The cat overpopulation problem in Canada is mainly due to irresponsible pet owners letting their cats roam free without identification and/or without being spayed or neutered. It is surprising to learn just how many cats in Canada are not properly identified either through tags or microchipping. As well, cats have a lower licensing rate (in most municipalities they don’t need to be licensed at all) so returning cats that are lost is next to impossible if an owner doesn’t proactively contact shelters and pounds in their area to look for their pet.
Un-spayed and un-neutered cats that roam contribute to the overpopulation problem by giving birth to unwanted litters year after year. Owners of male cats that roam may never know that their cat has fathered a litter. Many people think that spaying and neutering is unnecessary or too costly, but the unwanted litters cost money by taking up space in shelters. Spaying/neutering is the responsibility of all pet owners, but for some owners, the cost of spaying or neutering can be a deterrent to getting it done. However, there may be a low-cost spay/neuter program available in your area. By doing some research, contacting your local shelter or municipality you may be able to find a program that matches your finances.
