The Editor,
I'm sure most people feel like me: elated that spring has finally arrived.
But I'm also dreading the yearly influx of unspayed or unneutered cats, with no identification, into my yard. I've already seen at least three.
This is a plea to everyone who either owns a cat or finds an uninvited feline in their backyard:
Spaying and neutering is a must and not just because cats are much more likely to stay close to home if they're not motivated to wander by their hormones. There is still a serious cat overpopulation problem in B.C. - too many cats, too few homes. In many municipalities, it's the law that any cat over the age of six months be spayed or neutered, and identified with a collar and tag, tattoo and microchip, including Coquitlam and Port Moody.
It's a sad fact that only around 7% of lost cats are returned to their homes. The tag should have your phone number and address for a quick and safe return of your pet (the fastest and most stress-free way to get your cat back home). A tattoo number in the ear will trace your cat to the veterinary clinic where the tattoo was done, and the clinic will have your contact information as long as you've kept it up to date. A microchip can be scanned by a vet or animal shelter to a database that will contain your contact information.
It's important to treat your cat just like a dog - you wouldn't let your dog wander outside unsupervised, would you? Your cat should only be permitted out when supervised and definitely not let out after dark. B.C. is home to many hazards, including coyotes, who tend to hunt between dusk and dawn. You can hardly blame them for taking advantage of a quick and tasty meal if you put it out right under their noses.
And lastly, if you find a cat in your yard, please take responsibility for finding its home. It's a fallacy that cats can survive outside - they can't and they'll soon succumb to starvation, disease or accident.
If you've lost or found a cat, the Vancouver Humane Society's Catfind line can offer useful advice: 604-266-1012 or on our website, www.vancouverhumanesociety.bc.ca/resources/catfind.
If you want to do more, a donation to our spay/neuter fund (the McVitie Fund) would be much appreciated. The Vancouver Humane Society spays and neuters hundreds of cats every year, helping people who are on income assistance for whatever reason. We have a number of kind veterinarians who provide extremely low-cost spay/neuter, tattoo and vaccinations to the animals we help.
Debra Probert, Executive Director, Vancouver Humane Society
