Feral cats are a common sight in many communities, inhabiting business areas, vacant lots, and even residential neighborhoods. Without intervention, these unspayed or unneutered cats reproduce rapidly, leading to a significant increase in the stray cat population.
The most compassionate and effective method to manage feral and stray cat populations is through active Return-To-Home (RTH) programs. These programs involve humanely trapping cats, spaying/neutering, vaccinating, microchipping, and ear-tipping them before returning them to their original locations. This approach prevents new cats from entering the area, significantly reduces undesirable behaviors like fighting and spraying, improves the overall health of the cat colonies, and directly decreases the number of cats euthanized in local shelters, freeing up resources for Pet Adoptions.
Unfortunately, OC Animal Care Shelter discontinued its Return-To-Home program in February 2020 due to pandemic restrictions. This halt has undone much of the progress achieved by rescue organizations through RTH initiatives, and Orange County now faces an overwhelming number of cats and kittens. We urgently need your help to reinstate the Return-To-Home program at OC Animal Care Shelter. Please contact the OC Animal Care Shelter and your Mayor & City Council members to express your support for the Return-To-Home program and advocate for its immediate reinstatement. Re-establishing this program is crucial for animal welfare and allows shelters to focus on the successful adoption of domestic animals into loving homes.
If you are currently feeding a community cat, please take responsibility and arrange for it to be spayed or neutered as soon as possible to prevent further litters of kittens. You will be contributing to a more humane and manageable pet population in your community and supporting pet adoptions by reducing shelter overcrowding.
Please get involved and support this vital program. For more information on how you can assist or for help with stray cats in your area, please email us at – [email protected].
THEIR LIVES AND THE OPPORTUNITY FOR PET ADOPTIONS DEPEND ON YOUR ACTION.
