Out-of-the-Box Thinking on Outdoor Cats A Guest Blog By: Wayne Pacelle, President and CEO of The Humane Society of the United States

Cat advocates, wildlife conservationists, legislators, and public health representatives have long struggled with the issue of managing outdoor cats. And it’s no small matter, since there could be as many as 40 million community (feral and stray) cats now living in the United States, of which just two percent are sterilized and vaccinated.

As perhaps the only group in the debate with dozens of staff devoted to protecting companion animals and also to protecting wildlife, The HSUS believes in humane control where cats are trapped humanely, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, and then returned (TNR) to the communities in which they were found. For decades, we’ve been encouraging people to keep their cats safe indoors. We work with local and state lawmakers across the country to implement policies supporting TNR, and just last year, we helped more than 46 localities pass policies to eliminate barriers for community cat programs, including North Chicago, Ill., Pinellas County, Fla., Aiken, S.C., Pima County, Ariz., and Fort Wayne, Ind.

Photo Courtesy of the HSUS

In Rockville, Md., near our headquarters, local lawmakers are now considering changes to their animal care ordinance, to make clear that TNR programs are allowed and encouraged. Several state legislatures, including Arizona, Montana, New York, and Virginia, are also currently considering bills that would clarify the legality of community cat management practices. Now, The HSUS has put together a practical guide, Managing Community Cats; A Guide for Municipal Leaders, to help lawmakers with all of the information they need to implement effective cat policy, and to provide cat advocates with a tool they can use to approach policy makers.

As the guide reminds us, cats are already present in most communities, in droves, and reproducing more each day. The question now is between having unmanaged populations of cats, or managed ones. Lethal management is no longer an option being discussed because it’s an approach that has been tried for decades and has failed. Animal service agencies and organizations do not have the resources necessary, or the philosophical bent, to effectively remove tens of millions of cats.

We also know that most people care about cats and want to see them treated humanely. Polls show that the majority of citizens support non-lethal programs for cat population control, and a significant portion of the public, approximately 10 to 12 percent, already feed community cats and can be motivated to help support non-lethal programs. These caretakers constitute a large and indispensable volunteer labor force working to reduce the numbers of cats outdoors, and they would never participate in a round-up-and-kill approach.

At The HSUS we advocate for all animals and we share the deep concern for the impact of outdoor cats on wildlife. But it is important to remember that neither cats nor wild animals are well served by a polarized, divisive, and expensive “cats vs. wildlife” controversy. Instead of further division, we advocate for collaboration and discussion on our shared common goal of fewer unowned, outdoor cats. Innovative programs are popping up across the country, like the Catio Tour in Portland, Ore., a joint program of the Portland Audubon Society, and the Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon. Increased spaying and neutering and heightened public awareness of the need to keep owned cats indoors are also making a great difference.

Finally, we focus on best practices and new research to make the practice of TNR as effective as possible. By connecting organizations, sharing information, networking and providing access to thought leaders in the field through our Rethinking the Cat Symposia series and other trainings, we’re helping to improve these practices on the ground and in neighborhoods across the country.

For everyone concerned about cats, as well as the animal care and control agencies, shelters, rescues, and TNR organizations that have a major stake in effective cat policy, we encourage you to get involved and speak up for non-lethal and effective programs. Get our Managing Community Cats; A Guide for Municipal Leaders, and use it to motivate change in your community and help reduce the number of unowned, outdoor cats.

Keeping Out Old Man Winter, Written By: Nancy Peterson, Cat Programs Manager for The Humane Society of the United States

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY:This is a guest post by Nancy Peterson, Cat Programs Manager for The Humane Society of the United States. We thank Nancy as always for her superb contributions to our blog!

Winter is the perfect time to accustom your pet to being an indoor-only cat. An indoor lifestyle is safer for cats and also protects wildlife from injury or death caused by outdoor cats.

However, some outdoor cats don’t want to come indoors because they’re feral – too afraid of people to be handled or adopted into homes. Strays, friendly outdoor cats with no known owners, also live outdoors if no one adopts them. Feral and stray cats are known collectively as community cats, and they deserve our concern and care.

Photo Courtesy of  Neighborhood Cats

Many people feed community cats, but it’s Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) that will really be effective and reduce their numbers, nuisance behavior complaints, and public health concerns. With TNR, community cats are spayed or neutered, vaccinated against rabies, identified as sterilized with an ear tip (1/4 of the tip of the ear, usually the left, is surgically removed), and if healthy, returned to the area where they were found. Ideally, a caretaker provides community cats with shelter, food and water, monitors them for injury or illness, and traps any new cats who appear.

A caretaker’s role is especially critical during winter when even the most resourceful community cats need a helping hand. A properly-sized shelter is essential because one that’s too big makes it harder for the cat’s body heat to warm the interior. If you’re caring for several cats, provide shelters that accommodate three to five cats who will stay warm by huddling together. You can build a simple or a more elaborate shelter or buy a pre-made shelter. If you choose to build your own, scrap weather-proofed lumber may be available at low or no cost from a home supply store.

Photo Courtesy of
Christopher Humby
of Scaredy Cat Rescue

Make the door of the shelter just big enough for the cat to fit through and face the opening in a way to prevent wind, rain, and snow from entering. Place the shelter where it’s hidden from public view but allows you access, and elevate the shelter slightly off the cold ground. If possible, also try to place the shelter in a sunny spot against a warm building or near bushes that keep their leaves all year to provide additional protection from nature’s elements. For extra security, camouflage the shelter with branches and leaves.

Since hay may irritate kitty noses and cause allergic reactions, stuff the shelter with a thick layer of straw into which cats can burrow and stay warm. You can also stuff pillowcases with shredded newspaper or packing peanuts. On especially cold nights, provide microwaveable discs, which hold heat for 12 hours. Don’t use folded newspaper, towels, or blankets because they absorb body heat.

If it’s really cold and you can’t regularly check the shelter, avoid straw and stuffed pillowcases and line the shelter’s inner walls, floor, and ceiling with Mylar. It won’t draw heat from a cat resting on it, but will reflect back the cat’s body heat. If you have access to electricity, you can buy an outdoor heated cat shelter or heated bed to place in the shelter. Avoid salt or chemicals to remove snow or melt ice around the shelter or feeding station. These products may irritate paws or be toxic if licked.

Food and water bowls can be placed in a hidden feeding station made of a large plastic container situated on its side. So that cats don’t have to go far to access their food and water, place the container near the shelter, which will help them conserve energy and warmth.

Cats may be chilled by eating frozen food and keeping canned food from freezing in the winter may be challenging. One option is to warm canned food at home and then place it in insulated bags for transport. You can also place canned food inside a well-insulated shelter far from the doorway, which may allow the cat’s body heat to defrost it if it freezes. To avoid this potential problem all together, you may decide to feed dry food only.

Despite their thicker fur and toasty shelter, cats use more energy keeping warm when it’s cold, so feeding them a higher calorie food may be helpful. However, don’t feed so much food that there are leftovers that attract other animals, including wildlife. 

Photo Courtesy of
Christopher Humby
of Scaredy Cat Rescue

A thick plastic container that is deep and wide will keep water from freezing longer than a thin plastic or ceramic container. You can also mix sugar or salt into the water, which will lower its freezing point. Salt will lower the freezing point a bit better than sugar. Start with a half to one level teaspoon of either in one quart of water and adjust the amount as needed. Don’t place water in the shelter because the cats will get chilled if it spills and avoid metal bowls since their tongues can stick to the metal. You can also remove a tire from its metal rim, stuff it with rocks, and place a water-filled plastic container in the center space. The black tire will absorb heat from the sun and warm the rocks enough to keep the water from freezing. A solar-heated water bowl is an even simpler option that can prevent or delay freezing.

Even their thick winter undercoat won’t protect cats from frostbite if they’re exposed to severe cold for a prolonged period of time. Frostbite, the loss of blood circulation, can affect a cat’s ear tips, nose, tail, toes, and any body part where the hair is thin. If the early signs of frostbite – pale, gray, or bluish areas – aren’t treated as soon as they appear, the skin in those areas may ultimately die. You may see swelling, blisters, and black or dead skin as circulation returns and the skin thaws. If you can touch the cat, the area may be cold, brittle, and painful. Frostbite is not to be taken lightly so seek veterinary care right away.

Community cats live in many places in the United States, Canada, and around the world where winter climates challenge their survival. Thanks to TNR resources in those places and dedicated caretakers, community cats have full tummies and warm shelters when old man winter comes calling.

A Gratitude Attitude

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY:This is a guest post by Nancy Peterson, Cat Programs Manager for The Humane Society of the United States. We thank Nancy as always for her superb contributions to our blog!

What comes to mind when you think about Thanksgiving – food, football, Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade, Black Friday? I think of Samantha, a cat I’ve cared for since 2010. She’s usually waiting when I arrive with food and fresh water. In the four years I have  cared for Samantha, she’s never come closer than about ten feet. That’s because Samantha is a feral cat who is too afraid of people to be handled or adopted into a home. When I first learned about Samantha, she was living on scraps in a busy parking lot. Although many lost cats find their way home on their own, I concluded after several days that Samantha didn’t have a home and needed a helping hand.

"Samantha"
Photo Courtesy of Nancy Peterson

In order not to draw attention to either of us, I started to feed her every day in a discrete location. I also provided fresh water and a shelter to protect her from the weather. One morning, after about two weeks, instead of bringing food, I brought a trap. I knew she would have to be hungry to overcome her fear of going in, so I put some yummy treats in the far end of the trap and set it. I then went to my car and waited. It wasn’t long before I heard the trap door shut. I quickly approached and covered the trap with a sheet to help calm Samantha.

Photo Courtesy of
Kathy Milani

I was glad I caught her in the morning so I could bring her directly to a veterinary clinic where she was spayed, vaccinated against rabies and distemper, dewormed, treated for fleas, and ear tipped. If I had trapped her in the evening when the clinic was closed, I would have had to keep her in a safe, warm place, such as my bathroom or garage until the clinic opened the next morning.

Photo Courtesy of  Erin Parker

Samantha was alert when I picked her up from the clinic at the end of the day, but I kept her overnight in her covered trap in my garage to be sure she had no problems after her surgery, like bleeding. When I returned Samantha to her outdoor home the next morning, she dashed out of her trap and disappeared. She appeared after a few days and we resumed our feeding routine. Like hundreds of thousands of dedicated individuals, I am a feral cat caretaker who practices Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR).

As a cat owner, I am thankful for veterinarians, organizations, and agencies that provide low-cost spay/neuter services for pets. As a feral cat caretaker, I am thankful for veterinarians, organizations, and agencies that help community (feral and stray) cats, municipal leaders who support TNR in their communities, and other community cat caretakers.

If you’re feeding a community cat who only approaches you when he or she is extremely hungry, will only eat once you have moved away or he or she is still unapproachable and cannot be touched after several days of feeding, the cat is probably feral. If the cat is friendly and approaches you for attention, meows, or eats the food you put down right away, the cat is probably not feral by temperament, but rather a stray cat. Stray cats have usually had contact with people. Some may be able to be reunited with their family. Others with no known owner may be able to be adopted into homes. There are an estimated 30 to 40 million community cats in the United States and approximately two percent of them are spayed or neutered. Related females and their offspring usually live together in a group called a colony, and they share a common food source – a trash can, a dumpster behind a restaurant, or trash. Sometimes cats are solitary, such as Samantha.

Many caring people who see hungry cats begin to feed them. Unfortunately, some people who feed cats don’t realize there will soon be too many mouths to feed unless the cats are spayed or neutered. Access to TNR helps prevent the birth and death of unwanted kittens and reduces the number of community cats.

Photo Courtesy of
Krista Rakovan

If you or someone you know is feeding community cats, thank you. The next step is to find an organization that helps community cats and get them sterilized, vaccinated, and ear tipped as soon as possible. This will help prevent diseases that are transmitted from mother to kittens and between fighting and mating, resulting in healthier cats.. In addition, nuisance behaviors like yowling, fighting, and spraying stinky urine will be decreased or eliminated, making you and the cats better neighbors. This will also please officials and property owners because they’ll have fewer nuisance complaints to deal with. There are also humane deterrents that can be used to discourage cats from entering places they’re not wanted and since there will be fewer cats, there will be less predation on wildlife. Feeding strategies are also a way to avoid attracting wildlife and keep birds safe at feeders.

If you see an outdoor cat, look to see if the tip of one ear has been surgically removed or notched – this means that cat has been sterilized and vaccinated. If not, look for a local TNR group, organization, or agency that provides sterilization, vaccination, and ear tipping by using our online map of community cat service providers. If you have cats at home, you can help reduce the number of outdoor cats by spaying or neutering your own cats before they can reproduce at four months of age. If cost is an issue, look for a low-cost spay/neuter provider.

Thanksgiving is a time to appreciate all the good things in our lives. To caretakers, Thanksgiving means a reduction in the number of community cats. To animal shelters and rescue groups, it means decreased intake and euthanasia of cats. To fortunate cats, it means a full tummy and a place to rest. Thank you for helping animals, especially community cats, and Happy Thanksgiving from Samantha and me!

The Uninvited Guest: Successfully Introducing a New Cat into the Household – or Not

FROM CAT CHAT WITH CAREN AND CODY:This is a guest post by Nancy Peterson, Cat Programs Manager for The Humane Society of the United States. We thank Nancy as always for her super contributions to our blog!

"Luna"
Photo Courtesy of Nancy Peterson

My sister and I adopted 1-year-old sisters Zubi and Luna in September 2002 and our home in Maryland was all theirs for seven and a half years. They were cuddle cats – mostly with each other –and although I loved them, I yearned for a cat to cuddle with me. My sister knew that I met wonderful shelter cats at my job, so before I left for any trip my sister would say, “and don’t bring home any cats.”

In January 2006, I visited a shelter in Florida and had the opportunity to choose three shelter cats for that day’s filming of a CD about caring for adopted cats. As soon as I entered the cat enclosure to meet the cats, a brown tabby flew across the room and leaped into my lap. He immediately started licking my face, kneading my arm, and purring up a storm. I chose two other friendly cats and we went to the studio.

The brown tabby popped out of the first carrier I opened, walked all around the room, and greeted everyone – unlike most cats I knew who would probably hide or slink around when confronted with a new situation.

After the cat made his rounds, I was directed to play with him, brush him and feed him. Then, I was asked to trim his nails. As soon as I sat down, the cat was in my lap, licking my face, kneading my arm and purring. Once filming wrapped up, the cats were returned to the shelter.

I could not stop thinking about the friendly brown tabby and immediately called the shelter when I woke up the next morning to say that I wanted to adopt him. Then I called my sister who said it was okay. The shelter told me the cat, Tobias, was 10 years old, but I did not care because I loved his personality.

"Toby"
Photo Courtesy of Nancy Peterson

I renamed the cat Toby and confined him for several weeks on the first level of our house in order to introduce him properly to Zubi and Luna. Fortunately, I could keep them apart because a glass door separated the first and second levels. Since I did not want them to see each other, I covered the glass with newspaper and fed them for several weeks on opposite sides of the door so they’d associate each other with good things. One day, I tore away a teeny corner of the newspaper. When Zubi and Luna saw Toby, they hissed and fled upstairs. They never came down again.

During the years, I tried to gradually introduce Toby to the girls. I took him upstairs, initially on a harness and leash so I could control him, and offered them food bribes and catnip, filled the air with the sounds of a cat-calming CD and calming scents, and played with them so they’d associate one another with good things. I couldn’t make it work, so I put a bell on Toby’s collar to let the girls know when he’d escaped the first level and was headed their way.

Animal shelters and rescue groups have cats of every age, size, color and activity level. They can help you choose the right cat so you’ll have a better chance of a harmonious household. If you think you’ll ultimately want two cats, adopt two at the same time – adults who are already strongly bonded or kittens.

When you adopt a cat from an animal shelter or rescue group, they‘ll likely know about the cat’s personality and activity level, which, if similar to your cat’s, can improve the odds that they’ll get along. Another benefit of adopting from an animal shelter or rescue group is that the cat will likely have been examined, vaccinated, and spayed or neutered. Adoption will also save that cat’s life and make a cage available for another homeless cat.

If you adopt a stray, have him or her examined by your veterinarian before you bring the cat into your home. In addition to confining the new cat for a proper introduction, confining him or her for quarantine is important in case he’s incubating an illness that could be passed to your other cat. Wherever your new cat comes from, be sure your current cat or cats are up to date on their vaccinations as well.

When you add a cat to your household, it’s important to increase resources – such as water, food bowls, litter boxes, toys, vertical space and beds. Fill your cats’ indoor environment with opportunities to hunt (toys), relax in the sun (on a window perch), and scratch (a post or pad). Preventing cat behaviors you don’t want is easier than eliminating them. Reading The Humane Society of the United States’ Cat Answer Tool before you introduce cats will be helpful since most cats are quite territorial and dislike change.

Introducing cats improperly, such as allowing them to “work things out,” punishing, yelling at, or scaring them, can lead to years of bad blood between cats or a cat’s return or surrender to an animal shelter or rescue group.

You can also increase the chance cats will get along by spaying and neutering them because unsterilized cats are usually more territorial and aggressive. Spaying and neutering pet cats before puberty at four to six months of age has many health benefits and plays a critical role in reducing cat overpopulation. If you’re feeding community (feral and stray) cats outdoors, find an organization that supports Trap-Neuter-Return programs, which attempt to curb overpopulation through sterilization. The Humane Society of the United States has a free online Supporting Community Cats webinar series, which has lots of information about how to best help community cats.

Photo Courtesy of Nancy Peterson

If you have unsuccessfully tried to make peace between your pet cats, keep them separated and consult a local shelter or rescue group, your veterinarian, or a cat behavior specialist for assistance sooner rather than later. There are no winners in cat fights.

Preventing Common Behavior Problems – What Every Cat Needs, a Guest Post by Nancy Peterson, Cat Programs Manager for The Humane Society of the United States

I adopted my first kitty, Shasta, shortly after moving into my new apartment. The furnishings were bare, so I let Shasta use a decrepit upholstered chair for scratching. It was shredded when we moved two years later. To prevent Shasta from destroying the sofa in the new place, I covered it with a tight-fitting sheet and provided her with a catnip-seasoned scratching post. Once she was using the post consistently, I slowly uncovered the sofa. Mission accomplished.

Nancy's First Cat "Shasta"
Photographer:Nancy Peterson of the HSUS

Your cat has probably scratched something or “misbehaved” from your standpoint, but everything cats do makes perfect sense to them. Tragically, cats who “misbehave” may lose their homes if their owners can’t stop an undesired behavior. Nationwide, 70 percent of cats – community (feral and stray) cats as well as owner-surrendered cats – who enter shelters are put down. However, many common “misbehaviors” can be resolved so that cats won’t be given away, surrendered to an animal shelter, made to live outdoors or abandoned.

For example, scratching is instinctive for cats. They scratch to remove the dead outer layer of their claws, mark their territory, or just to have a good stretch. Your job is to provide them with appropriate items to scratch – like a scratching post or pad. If you don’t give them a suitable object, they will find their own – like Shasta did.

Photographer, Mike McFarland of the HSUS

Many owners plan to have their cats declawed during their spay/neuter surgery and so don’t bother to provide scratching objects prior to the procedure. Guess what? Their cat scratches the furniture because there is no other option. A well-placed scratching pad or post would have saved both the furniture and the cat’s claws.

In July, the American Veterinary Medical Association strengthened its policy on declawing. The procedure is now considered a major surgery that should only be performed to prevent destructive scratching after veterinarians have informed their client about the true nature of the procedure and the possible complications, as well as the many available alternatives.

Really, it’s not hard to train your cat. Just observe. Some cats prefer standing up and scratching vertically on the front of a sofa arm, some horizontally on the top of the sofa arm and other cats are equal opportunity scratchers. The key is making your furniture and other possessions undesirable and providing several desirable scratching opportunities throughout your home. For example, a tall scratching post will be an attention grabber for cats who like scratching vertically. They’ll be able to stand on their hind legs, stretch their body to its full length, and sink their claws into the material covering the post.

The Humane Society of the United States has a Cat Answer Tool and cat care tip sheets that will help you prevent or stop destructive scratching, as well as other behavioral issues. Avoid encouraging any behaviors you don’t like. It’s easier to prevent behaviors than stop them once they’ve become a habit. Here are other tips for having a great relationship with your cat.

Spay or neuter your cat before four months old when kitty hormones kick in and undesirable behaviors may occur – such as spraying urine to mark territory or trying to escape to find a mate. Spaying and neutering will not change your cat’s personality, but may make him or her calmer and less aggressive.

Take your cat to the veterinarian at least yearly for wellness examinations and whenever you notice unusual behavior. For example, you land a new job and your cat stops using the litter box. Your cat isn’t mad because you’re away from home more; he or she is stressed because the routine has been disrupted. There could also be a medical cause for the litter box avoidance, like arthritis or feline lower urinary tract disease. Always have your veterinarian rule out any medical issue that could be causing your cat’s unusual behavior.

Help relieve stress and boredom with toys that your cat can play with independently and kibble dispensers which act as invitations to work for food. Teach your cat to play nicely by playing together.

Photographer Mike McFarland of the HSUS

Give your cat his or her own high place to survey the world. A tall cat tower by the window provides a nice place to hang out above the action where cats feel safe and have a better view. If you don’t choose the place, your cat is likely to find one– such as the kitchen counter or dining room table.

Introduce your cat to other pets in your home very gradually. Imagine if someone you didn’t know showed up at your house with no warning. I bet you’d be upset. Proper introductions between pets are so important to maximize the chance that they will get along or at least learn to tolerate each other.

Adopt a cat if you’re thinking of adding another to your household. Animal shelters and cat rescues can help match your cat’s personality and activity level to a new cat. Kittens are adorable, but their activity level may upset your older cat. A relationship with a veterinarian and shelter or rescue group can help you eliminate unwanted behaviors so your cat remains a cherished family member.

Read a good book about cat care and behavior. Studies have found that people who read even one book that explains normal cat behavior and helps people prevent or resolve unwanted cat behaviors are less likely to surrender their cats to shelters.

There are bound to be some bumps in the road, but thanks to our better understanding of cats, improved veterinary care and indoor lifestyles, we can keep our cats on their best behavior.

The Importance of Spaying and Neutering Cats, a Guest Post by Nancy Peterson, Cat Programs Manager for The Humane Society of the United States

As a child, every birthday and holiday I begged for a cat, but it wasn’t until I was an adult that I finally got one. I eagerly adopted four month old Shasta from a friend whose cat had kittens. Oops! My friend wasn’t planning on her cat having a litter of kittens, but didn’t get around to spaying her cat in time.

Shasta, Nancy's first cat
Photo Courtesy of HSUS

It didn’t take long to fall in love with my beautiful gray Shasta, and I often shared stories about her with my work colleague Susan, who had six cats and was a fount of kitty information. After a while, I began to suspect that Shasta was in heat, but Susan would disagree. Finally, I came in one day and announced, “Oh, my goodness. Shasta is in heat.” Susan nodded yes and smiled.

If you’ve ever lived with a cat in heat, you know it’s not fun. She’ll be calling loudly for a male cat, rolling around on the floor, and constantly rubbing against furniture or your leg. Cats have multiple heat cycles during breeding season, which is affected by geographic factors, temperature and number of daylight hours. She’ll be in heat and accept a male for three to 16 days. If she doesn’t become pregnant, she’ll keep coming into heat every two to three weeks until she mates or the amount of daylight decreases.

If I would have known then what I know now, I would have spayed Shasta before she came into heat. I certainly wasn’t planning on breeding her, but I didn’t realize that a cat could go into heat and become pregnant as young as four to five months of age. I also didn’t know that cats who are spayed before their first heat have a decreased risk of mammary tumors or that female cats who aren’t spayed could get pyometra, a potentially fatal uterine infection. Caring for a cat with pyometra can cost way more than the cost of a routine spay surgery.

Shasta cuddles in the warm laundry. 
Photo Courtesy of HSUS

When I adopted Shasta in 1974, it was common to wait until cats were six months old to spay or neuter. Nowadays, due to several advances in medicine, many animal shelters spay and neuter cats before they’re adopted, even as young as two months old or two pounds.

Neutering male cats before they can reproduce is important too. Male cats can reach puberty between four and six months of age. Living with a male cat who isn’t neutered is no picnic either. Your un-neutered male cat may try to escape the house to find a mate and spray urine. Also, once males start spraying, it’s a habit they might continue. If he’s neutered before puberty kicks in, the urge to mark territory by spraying urine is more likely to be nipped in the bud. Un-neutered male cats also have a higher chance of prostate cancer, whereas neutered male cats have a zero chance of getting testicular cancer.

In addition to helping individual cats, spaying and neutering is very important for combating cat overpopulation. According to The Humane Society of the United States, on an annual national average, 70-75 percent of cats entering animal shelters are euthanized. The reasons include lack of resources to care for cats who are too young, too old, sick, aggressive, and so on. Some heartbroken owners who don’t know that many cat behavior problems can be solved surrender their cats. Then there are community (feral and stray) cats who produce about 80 percent of the kittens born each year. Only two percent of community cats are sterilized and they are the most significant source of cat overpopulation. Check out The HSUS website to learn about and find help for community cats in your area.

So, what keeps people from spaying and neutering their cats in a timely manner? Well, they may not realize how early a cat can become pregnant, or that a cat who is nursing kittens can become pregnant as soon as two weeks after giving birth. They also may not realize that 10 percent of female cats go back into heat between the third and sixth week of pregnancy, possibly resulting in litters of different ages.

There are lots of myths surrounding spay and neuter. Some people may think that it’s best to let their female cat have at least one litter or that spaying and neutering will change their cat’s personality or make him or her fat and lazy. Not so. If anything, intact cats who reach puberty are ruled by their hormones, kind of like human teenagers, whereas spayed and neutered cats are calmer and easier to live with. Other people may put off spaying and neutering because they’re concerned about the cost of the procedures. Fortunately there are lots of high quality, low-cost spay and neuter options for pet cats.

 Shasta
Photo Courtesy of HSUS

If you’re thinking of adopting a cat or two, your local animal shelter or rescue group will be happy to introduce you to cats of all shapes, sizes, and personalities. In addition to getting a great pet who is likely already spayed or neutered, you’ll be saving a precious life.

I wish someone had clued me in on all the benefits of spaying and neutering cats before they are able to reproduce. But once I knew, you can bet my subsequent cats were spayed and neutered as soon as possible. Please be sure that you beat the heat by getting the job done earlier rather than later.

Meow, Purr, Hiss – Understanding Talkative Cats By: Nancy Peterson, Cat Programs Manager for The Humane Society of the United States

 One day, Kathy, a client of the veterinary clinic where I worked as a registered veterinary technician, called to confirm our lunch date for the next day. During the call she says, “By the way, a long-haired tri-color cat has been meowing at my door for days. I think her family moved and left her behind.” I immediately asked, “Do you mean a long-haired calico?” I’d been saying for at least a year that my next cat would be a long-haired calico. Could this be her?

When I arrived, the cat was crying at Kathy’s door. “Isn’t Meow Meow beautiful?” Kathy said. That’s what Kathy called the cat because she was very talkative. Poor kitty, she really wanted to get inside. After lunch, I got a better look at her and because the veterinarian I worked for was an angel and often helped homeless cats, I thought it would be okay to bring Meow Meow to the clinic.

Although it was my day off, I drove Meow Meow to the clinic. She didn’t make a peep in the car. After one of the veterinarians examined her and drew blood to test her for feline leukemia, I vaccinated her and gave her a flea bath. She was a great little patient. I was starting to fall in love. “Okay, Meow Meow,” I told her as I prepared to leave for the day, “If your feline leukemia test is negative, I’m going to take you home and introduce you to my cat, Buddy.”

"Daisy" Photo Courtesy of The HSUS

That was the beginning of my wonderful relationship with Meow Meow. Although I renamed her Daisy, she stayed true to her original name, and the house became very quiet when she died at 19 years of age.

You may not know that the meow is rarely used between cats. They rely more on body language and scents than vocalization to communicate with each other, although vocalizations may be used as well. Even we humans understand that a growl, hiss or scream means a cat is stressed. He or she could be saying, “I’m upset because I see a cat outside the window,” “I’m afraid because I don’t like having my nails clipped” or “I’m in pain when you touch me there.”

However, recognizing the meaning of cat body language on its own is not something that most people have mastered. Many are bitten or scratched for failing to take heed of the twitching skin, swishing tail, and grabbing paw that may indicate that a cat is getting upset. That’s because people communicate primarily through verbal language. Leave it to our clever cats to crack the code to effectively communicate with us.

Joelyne King's Cat, NarniaPhotographer: Meredith Lee
The HSUS

 Our cats have mastered the art of meow. I’m sure you’ve learned to recognize what your cat’s different meows mean – wake up, feed me, open the bedroom door and so on – depending on the volume, duration and intensity.

If your cat adopts a new vocalizing behavior, it may mean he or she is in some sort of pain. On the other hand, if your talkative cat stops vocalizing, it may also mean something hurts. It’s best to contact your veterinarian because cats often hide signs of illness until they’re seriously ill, and any change in behavior may be an early sign of a medical problem.

If your cat is new to your home or has just gone through a change – such as a person or other animal moving in or out – and she has just started talking, be patient. Yelling at your cat may scare him or her. If your cat thinks of your yelling as positive attention, he or she may continue to be noisy. If you ignore the chatter, it will probably stop on its own. If it doesn’t, contact your veterinarian.

Joelyne King's Cat, NarniaPhotographer: Meredith Lee
The HSUS

After the death or departure of a person or animal in your cat’s life, he or she may vocalize to express grief. This can be a normal part of the grieving process. The best thing you can do is keep your cat’s normal schedule the same (or as close to it as possible) and spend some extra time cuddling and playing during quiet moments. With time, the vocalizing should subside. If your cat does not return to his or her normal self, consult your veterinarian to make sure there is no underlying medical problem.

As cats age, their hearing may diminish. Daisy gradually became deaf in her older years and I didn’t understand that her frequent yowling meant that she could no longer hear. It’s not unusual for cats to vocalize if they suffer from arthritis and other painful ailments or senility. It’s easy to chalk up the talk to aging, but something more serious could be going on. Again, contacting your veterinarian is the best course of action.

Oriental breeds, such as Siamese cats, are known to be very talkative. If your cat has a pointed face and a long, lean body, chances are he or she has some Oriental heritage and “talking” is just a character trait. If your cat’s chatter bothers you, avoid giving attention when he or she talks, because that will only encourage the vocal behavior. Instead, give attention during quiet moments.

Cats may talk because they want your attention. If you talk back, feeding, petting or even picking him or her up and temporarily putting  them in another room – assuming your cat likes to be picked up – encourages the chatter. I know it can be hard to ignore a talkative cat, but you need to ignore the behavior in order to discourage it. Only pay attention to your cat when he or she is quiet: pour on the love, have playtime, or once in a while, reward with a treat. This will teach your cat which behaviors you would like to continue.

How often do you talk to your cat? To learn more about chatty cats, read “The Cat’s Meow: Understanding Your Feline Friend.”

There’s No Place Like Home: The Importance of Keeping Pet Cats Indoors:A Guest Blog by Nancy Peterson, Cat Programs Manager for The Humane Society of the United States

According to the American Pet Products Association (APPA), more cats are living the good life – indoors. Since the APPA first began tracking the percentage of cats kept indoors during the daytime, the number has risen from 57% in 2002 to 64% in 2012; in 2002, 68% of cats were kept indoors during the night compared to 76% in 2012. That’s music to my ears.

"Jenny" photo by Nancy Peterson

When I worked as a registered veterinary technician in San Diego, California, good Samaritans often brought in injured cats whom they’d found outdoors. My beloved cat, Stu, was one of them. Young boys on their way to school found him on the side of the road. He had been hit by a car. The boy’s teacher brought him to our veterinary clinic and we were able to repair his broken jaw and other wounds. We called him Student Cat and estimated that he was about 4 months old. I cared for him for several weeks before he got adopted by a nice family. Unfortunately, someone in the family turned out to be allergic to cats and they brought Student Cat back to the clinic. The family was very sad because they’d grown to love him in the four days they’d had him.

When I opened his carrier and picked him up, he started purring immediately. My heart melted and I decided to adopt Student Cat. He’d been through so much and I didn’t want anything else bad to happen to him again. He joined my household of two other stray cats, Buddy, whom I found in the parking lot where the veterinary clinic was located, and Daisy, who was left behind when her family moved.

It’s not surprising that I acquired most of my cats from the street. According to the APPA, more people (35%) get their cats as strays than from any other source. Did you know that stray and feral cats, known collectively as community cats, contribute 80% of the kittens born each year and are the most significant source of cat overpopulation? Did you know that cats can reproduce when they’re only 5 months old? So, in addition to keeping cats safe indoors, it’s very important to spay and neuter them in order that their offspring don’t become part of the overwhelming population of cats being cared for by animal shelters and rescue groups.

Once stray cats join my household, they become indoor cats. I’m convinced that they live much longer and better lives than they would as outdoor cats. None have shown the slightest interest in going outdoors again. Even though my cats live indoors, they all wear safety collars with ID tags just in case something happens. You never know. They could sneak out the door if someone isn’t careful or they could become displaced during a storm. In fact, one day Daisy did sneak out the door to chase an insect. She froze in fear and I did too.

Don’t get me wrong, I’m sure that people who let their cats roam love their cats, and they think it’s cruel to keep cats indoors. Although it wouldn’t be good to keep cats indoors with no way for them to exhibit their natural behaviors, cats who are provided with a stimulating environment can live happy, and safer, lives indoors. Instead of chasing a leaf, they can chase a ping pong ball; instead of climbing a tree (and possibly getting stuck up there), they can climb a carpeted cat tree; instead of relaxing outdoors in the sun, they can get some rays and watch the world go by from their window perch.

"Luna" enjoying the sights outside, photo by Nancy Peterson

Because my cats live indoors, I notice if one suddenly goes to the litter box more often than usual. As soon as I noticed my cat Buddy straining to urinate, I took him to the veterinarian. He had a bladder stone which had to be surgically removed. I might not have noticed Buddy’s problem if he went outdoors and a male cat who can’t urinate will get very sick very fast. He may never have come home and suffered in great pain. Another time I was getting ready for work and Daisy had a seizure. I could have missed that if she was allowed outdoors.

Speaking of safety, an indoor lifestyle for cats also protects them from being hit by a car, mistreated by mean people, being injured by other animals, and having other life-threatening or fatal encounters. Keeping cats indoors also protects birds and wildlife who may fall victim to cats and helps keep the peace between neighbors who don’t appreciate cats using their garden as a litter box, walking on their cars, or upsetting their indoor cat.

"Toby" photo by Nancy Peterson

An indoor lifestyle doesn’t have to mean that your cat never has the opportunity to enjoy being outdoors. I’ve trained one of my current cats, Toby, to “walk” on a harness and leash. As soon as he’s out the door, he munches on a plant and relaxes under a bush. Since he’s not that interested in going outside, I haven’t continued the walks. Why risk getting fleas or other parasites when he can munch on cat grass and relax on his cat tree inside. My other current cats, Luna and Jenny, are on the timid side and would not enjoy the harness and leash.

I really want to build a catio (a screened in patio enclosure attached to the house) for my cats to give them a greater opportunity to enjoy the outdoors in a safe setting. I think we would all enjoy being together in the backyard while I garden. You may want to consider a cat-proof fence for your yard but remember that although it will keep your cat in, it won’t keep out other animals who could harm your cat.

I’m not the only one who hopes you’ll keep your pet cats indoors. The Humane Society of the United States (HSUS), many other national organizations, animal shelters and rescue groups, veterinarians, and wildlife advocates also recommend keeping cats indoors. The HSUS has lots of good information about adopting a cat, resolving cat behavior issues so you don’t put your cat outdoors as a solution, keeping cats happy indoors, transitioning a cat from living outdoors to indoors, and more.

For decades, The HSUS, the nation’s largest animal protection organization, has promoted the important message of keeping cats indoors.  Nancy Peterson, a registered veterinary technician and award-winning writer, joined The HSUS in 1998 and has served as the Cat Programs Manager since 2005. Nancy’s current family consists of rescue cats Luna, Toby, and Jenny.