New Study Shows Majority of Pet Cats Are Neutered

/PRNewswire/ -- A new study in the Journal of the American Veterinary Association reports that the vast majority -- at least 80% -- of pet cats in U.S. households are neutered, with middle-to higher-income households reporting rates of over 90%.

The peer-reviewed study, based on data collected for the national nonprofit organization Alley Cat Allies by Harris Interactive, Alley Cat Allies by Harris Interactive and analyzed by Alley Cat Allies using a rigorous statistical approach, is the first nationally representative study to thoroughly examine household income as it relates to the neuter status of pet cats.

"This study indicates that spaying and neutering is an accepted, established practice among the large majority of Americans with pet cats," said Becky Robinson, president of Alley Cat Allies. "This is a very positive finding. As a result, our nation's pet cats are living much healthier lives."

The study found that family income was the strongest predictor of whether house cats are neutered. In households earning $35,000 or more annually, 93% of cats were neutered, compared to 51% of cats in households earning less than $35,000. While both income groups reported a majority of their pet cats to be neutered, the disparity underscores a challenge long observed by Alley Cat Allies, said Robinson.

"Up until now, there has been a lot of speculation that income is a barrier for neuter in lower-income families, but now we have a scientific study establishing that this is the case nationally," Robinson said.

"It is also critical to point out that household cats represent only part of the total U.S. cat population," said Wendy Anderson, director of law and policy for Alley Cat Allies and a co-author of the study.

"Previous research has shown there may be just as many stray and feral cats in the U.S. as pet cats, and most of these cats are intact and breeding. We need to enact smart policies and programs that expand the availability of low-cost, high-volume spay and neuter services, not only to serve lower-income pet owners, but to provide services for feral cats as well," Anderson said.

The study ("Population Characteristics and Neuter Status of Cats Living in Households in the United States," J Am Vet Med Assoc 2009; 234:1023-1030) consisted of 1,205 respondents across the continental U.S., contacted by telephone and selected via random-digit dial methodology. Following completion of the data collection, respondents were weighted for region, age, gender, education, income, race and ethnicity to ensure a sample representative of the U.S. population.

Based on the nationally representative sample, the study concluded that there are approximately 82.4 million pet cats in the United States, living in a total of 36.8 million households. One third of these households reported adopting at least one of their cats as a stray.

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Georgia Feline Friend License Plate Unveiled Today

State officials unveiled a new license plate today benefiting Georgia’s spay/neuter program. The new license plate depicts a black and white tuxedo cat. Proceeds from sales of the Feline Friend license plate will directly benefit the Dog and Cat Sterilization Program, which provides spay/neuter subsidies to Georgians statewide and performs educational outreach on this healthy choice.

The Feline Friend license plate joins the Program’s two other designs, the Buddy and Animal Friend license plates. Since November 2003, almost $2.9 million has been earned to specifically fund subsidies and education. In addition to license plate sales, which provide the Program’s primary funding source, the State Income Tax Checkoff is another means of supporting the Program’s critical efforts.

“By adding the new Feline Friend license plate we hope to appeal to cat lovers throughout Georgia to help us with this important program,” said Commissioner Irvin. “We hope that everyone goes out and buys this tag for their vehicles.”

Unlike other spay/neuter programs, the DCSP has no income requirements. Any Georgia resident may benefit from the program. Interested residents should contact their local veterinarians to confirm program participation. More than 41,000 spay/neuter surgeries have been performed on animals in all 159 Georgia counties. To date, 1,004 veterinarians currently participate in the Program. For complete Program information and to find a participating veterinarian in their area, Georgians are invited to contact the Program by visiting www.agr.georgia.gov or by calling (404) 656-3667.

Georgians may purchase any of the Program’s license plates for their vehicles from county tag offices throughout Georgia for a $25.00 one-time fee. More than $22.00 from each license plate sold directly benefits the DCSP. These funds are allocated only for spay/neuter procedures and educational outreach on this healthy choice. Georgians may also contribute to the DCSP in honor or memory of a loved one. Contributions are 100% tax-deductible and provide much-needed funding to help curb the epidemic of pet overpopulation in our state.

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Helping Homeless Cats

(NAPSI)-If you're feeding cats outdoors-whether tame or feral (not tame)-you're not alone. Experts say the welfare and management of these unneutered and unspayed cats is an issue in almost every community.

Problems associated with these cats include:

• a growing population

• frequent and loud noise from fighting and mating behavior

• strong foul odors from unneutered male cats spraying to mark their territory

• visible suffering from dying kittens and injured adults.

In addition to nuisance calls about these problems, shelters in a community with large homeless cat populations usually experience higher animal control costs due to trapping efforts and/or costs associated with caring for and euthanizing homeless cats. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is an effective method for improving the lives of feral cats and reducing their numbers.

The cats targeted for TNR are feral cats. Feral cats are the offspring of lost or abandoned pet cats or other feral cats who are not spayed or neutered. They do not easily adapt or may never adapt to living indoors as pets in close contact with people.

At a minimum, feral cats who are part of a TNR program are spayed or neutered so they can no longer reproduce. In addition, they are vaccinated against rabies, surgically ear-tipped on one ear and returned to their territory. Ear-tipping is the universally recognized sign of a cat who has been TNRed.

Dedicated caretakers feed and provide shelter for these cats, monitor them for sickness and trap new cats who appear. If the captured cats are feral, they are TNRed; if the captured cats are lost or abandoned pet cats, they are reunited with their families or adopted into new homes. If they are kittens young enough to be socialized, they are also adopted.

The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS) believes that cat overpopulation is a community-generated problem and that every community has a responsibility to work toward an effective long-term solution.

TNR of feral cats is part of that solution. In addition, pet cats must be spayed or neutered before they can reproduce at 5 months of age, kept indoors or safely confined to their property, provided with safety collars and ID and searched for immediately if they go missing.

To learn more about managing cat overpopulation, visit www.humanesociety.org/feralcats.

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Pets for Christmas Not a Good Idea

Returning home to find a new pet sick or in need of medical care is not the Christmas memory you’ll want to carry through the years. That is one of the things Agriculture Commissioner Tommy Irvin wants Georgians to think about before purchasing or adopting a pet for Christmas.

Here are a few points to consider from Commissioner Irvin:

• Never give an animal to anyone unless that person wants it, expects it, and is prepared to immediately care for it. People receiving the animal should bond with that animal beforehand. They should not be surprised by it or have it forced on them, even by someone with the best of intentions.

• With the bustle of holiday festivities and duties, do you have the time to effectively care and watch out for a new animal or to deal with housebreaking and litter box issues?

• Introducing a new animal into new surroundings can be stressful. A home full of holiday guests and small children, each wanting to hold and feed the animal, only makes the stress worse.

• Chocolate, grapes, raisins and macadamia nuts are dangerous to dogs. A dog can choke on a turkey or chicken bone. Will you be able to make sure it doesn’t get into any of these or that a guest won’t feed them to the dog?

• Decorations may look like playthings to a dog or cat eager to explore its new surroundings. Will you be upset if the cat climbs into the Christmas tree to hide or if the dog chews up an heirloom ornament?
• Veterinarians will be harder to reach during the holiday if there is an emergency.

• Will your children think an animal is like a toy that can be discarded when they grow tired of it?

• A pet is a long-term commitment of time and money. Do you want a companion or do you just need a gift?

“The main thing I want Georgians to remember is that decisions about getting a pet should be carefully considered. The last thing animal shelters want to see is another orphaned animal. A dog or cat is not like a sweater that you can return or stick in the back of the closet,” said Commissioner Irvin.

“The second thing is that Christmas may not be the best time to introduce a new pet into the household. If you and your children sincerely want a dog or cat as a Christmas gift, consider giving a photo or drawing of one on Christmas morning and then visit an animal shelter and adopt one in January.

“And, of course, always spay and neuter your cat or dog,” Irvin added.

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