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This basket of squirming, mewing kittens was born to a pregnant cat dropped off at the Humane Society of Cowlitz County. If the kittens remain healthy, they have chance of being adopted, unlike 85 percent of the hundreds of cats the Longview shelter receives each month. Greg Ebersole / The Daily News

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Humane Society sees sharp increase in orphaned cats

Saturday, July 26, 2008 11:34 PM PDT

By Amy M.E. Fischer

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Local cats are breeding like bunnies, and their owners aren’t taking responsibility for the problem, the Cowlitz County Humane Society’s director said this week.

As of Thursday afternoon, the Humane Society of Cowlitz County has taken in 405 cats this month, “the highest number I’ve ever seen,” said HSCC Director Rick Johnson.

By the end of the month, HSCC Director Rick Johnson expects the number of cats dropped off to reach the 500 mark, easily surpassing the 418 cats the shelter received in July 2007. Generally, the local Humane Society takes in an average of 320 cats per month between June and October, the busiest season, he said. The shelter adopts out about 40 to 45 cats monthly.

It’s a frustrating position for the Humane Society, which has ramped up efforts over the last year to control the county’s escalating cat population:

• The Humane Society opened a $40,000 spay/neuter clinic last October to sterilize cats the shelter puts up for adoption and cats with low-income owners, who pay a deeply discounted fee of $50 for spaying and $35 for neutering. Since then, 337 privately-owned cats have been fixed — but given the extent of the cat population, that’s not enough to make a dent in the problem, Johnson said.

• Each year, the Humane Society and Feline Friends bring the Feral Cat Coalition’s mobile spay/neuter clinic to town. More than 900 wild, undomesticated cats have been captured locally, sterilized and released in the last three years.

• In January, the HSCC began requiring people who want to drop off their litters of kittens to first bring in the mother cat, which the Humane Society spays for free. To get the momma cat back, the owners must return with the kittens. Some people cooperate, but others don’t want the hassle, he said.

• Also, the HSCC has twice offered free neutering events for up to 50 male cats. The first event succeeded, but at the second one, only 28 of the 50 cats with appointments showed up.

“We need the public to participate. We need those low-income people to bring those animals in before they’re pregnant,” Johnson said. “We can get three litters a year from the same people. ... If we don’t have room, we have to take care of the problem.”

Which is a nice way of saying the cats must be euthanized. Only the healthy cats have a chance at the shelter, said Johnson, who estimates 85 percent of the cats people drop off are sick. Illness spreads rapidly among cats, so shelter employees won’t risk exposing healthy cats to sick ones, he said. The shelter doesn’t have enough room to isolate and treat all the sick cats that come in.

“Think of the staff that has to deal with this,” Johnson said. “There’s a lot of stress involved.”

Thursday, Humane Society surgery vet technician Nikki Scharbrough worked at the front desk, waiting for the inevitable box-loads of kittens to arrive.

“It’s really sad, and it’s unfortunate that it’s so easy for people to come in and dump them,” said Scharbrough, 28.

She informs the “customers” that the kittens likely won’t be adopted, but “the majority of people, they don’t care,” she said.

“It’s really stressful, and it doesn’t seem like it’s getting any better. ... You don’t get used to it, ever,” said Scharbrough, who’s worked at the Humane Society on and off for nine years. “That’s one of the things the staff has to remember is it’s not our fault, and if people would vaccinate, spay and neuter, this wouldn’t happen.”

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block watcher wrote on Jul 27, 2008 12:54 AM:

" I for the last 2 years have taken advantage of the Feral Cat Coalitions clinic and have brought in 16 cats in the last 2 years to be fixed, all being feral/abandoned cats. People move in, get a kitty, "cause they're so cute" and then decide the are to much work and leave them behind when they move or just put them outside and NOT get them fixed. I got my Male cat from the Humane Society and got him fixed as part of requirement of getting him. I got another cat at the feed store, she was brought in and needed a home, took her and got her fixed. I wish people would do that when they get pets. I have a neighbor who has just recently put 3 female cats out cause he's tired of dealing with the flea problem and two of them are pregnant now. I am so sick of people not being responsible for their cats!!!! GET THEM FIXED and removing "feral" cats just moves other cats in. I wish the Feline Friends Clinic was sooner the November. There are some stray males I would love to get fixed. Very aggressive. "

Huggygramma wrote on Jul 27, 2008 8:21 AM:

" I know the Humane Society puts them to sleep if they don't have room for them, but there is also a wonderful organization in town called Rescued Paws and they are No Kill, so if you can't get the Humane Society to take them, you could call these nice people and they will find homes for your kitties. "

Crystal wrote on Jul 27, 2008 9:05 AM:

" Spaying the mama cat for free is a good thing, but saying $50 is "deeply discounted" is a little silly. I live in Vancouver and getting cats spayed or neutered at a low cost clinic down here is a lot cheaper than that. Maybe if the humane society up there could do some more fundraising or advertise their events better, more money will come in. "

Rural Citizen wrote on Jul 27, 2008 10:03 AM:

" People are irresponsible with their pets and it's a sad thing. Dogs will come right out and be immediately noticed due to their natural group think. But cats are loners and will prowl the bushes and hide from us and CONTINUE TO BREED until they have formed a level of wild cats that must eat to live. They destroy every bird and crawling thing they can eat until they usually get eaten by something bigger, like a raccoon or puma.

Yes, we have pumas hereabouts. "

classic_mustang_chick wrote on Jul 27, 2008 1:56 PM:

" This is sad...I rescued my kitties from the shelter. Best Cats ever!!! If I had time and space for two more (assuming my cats would be okay with strangers in their home...which from experience moving back with mom and her 6 cats, that just isn't going to happen). I wish I could get a couple more, but those of us responsible pet owners shouldn't bear the burden of trying to rescue what others refuse to control.

How about making the people who don't care and bring in these cats watch other sick kitties be euthanized??? Maybe then they might find a heart and become a responsible pet owner. "

smoakfam wrote on Jul 27, 2008 2:24 PM:

" We adopted our cat "JERRY" from the Kitty Korner there and it was well worth the $85.00 we spent to get him. This covered him being neutered and all his shots!!! He is a great addition to our family!!! "

Girth VonPhister wrote on Jul 27, 2008 2:27 PM:

" Bob Barker says it best!!! Help control the pet population. Have you pet spayed or neutered. It is that simple....If you can't afford to alter your pet, don't get one.. "

just a thought wrote on Jul 27, 2008 2:37 PM:

" I think that it is heartbreaking the amount of animals that are being euthanized. It is up to the pet owners to take care of thier animals so that won't happen. At the same time though, if the Human Society didn't charge $120 to adopt a cat or kitten a lot more of them would be adopted. I have a friend that wanted to get one but couldn't justify spending that much when she has kids to take care of and could get one for free in the paper. "

Viewpoint wrote on Jul 27, 2008 4:10 PM:

" Pets cost money and require a commitment of time. Add up the cost of food, kitty litter, rabies shots, other vaccinations, flea products, neutering and miscellaneous vet visits and you'll realize if you can't afford the $120 to get the cat, then you certainly can't afford to keep one. Make friends with a neighbor's cat. "

kitten wrote on Jul 27, 2008 4:30 PM:

" This just makes me sick. I feel so bad for the workers and volunteers at the Humane Society. Much like many people choose to have kids they cannot afford, they also choose to get animals they cannot afford. That being said, I also know a lot of people that have plenty of money and still aren't responsible enough to get their animals fixed. If you have a pet that is not fixed, make the appointment and follow through with it before it is too late. "

El Gabilon wrote on Jul 27, 2008 4:56 PM:

" There is a bright side here. The more feral cats, the less rats and field mice. Field mice carry a deadly disease for humans as do rats. They eat roaches and many other insects. As for killing birds that is the cats nature. It may appear that the cat is upsetting the balance of nature, but a closer look will see that the cause is human. Long ago we choose to "fight nature" rather than "live within its bounds" and the result of that choice is chaos. The city of Alburqurque New Mexico has banned the sale of cats within the city limits because they are not being cared for. We should be more concerned with the number of humans. Today there are about three billion, 40 years from now there will be about six billion. Three fourths of the earth is water. The other 25% is land. Fifty or sixty years from now there will be twelve billion humans. Already we are unable to feed those that exist. We have far greater problems to worry about than the feral cats running loose in our neighbor hood. When that time comes there will be war, chaos, a thousand$ or more of crime, murder, rape, robbery, starvation, and very possibly cannibalism (recall the Donner Party). Anyone born after 1950 will probably see this, if nothing is done to prevent it. Anyone born before 1950 for the most part can say that they lived "in the best of times". "

Louie wrote on Jul 27, 2008 5:38 PM:

" I know there are a bunch of cat lovers out there but I am so sick of the neighbors cats crapping in my yard I could spit. Cats also carry disease especially if you get clawed by one. Watch out if you do because it can be deadly.
I think we need a leash law for dogs and cats both but I know people would never go for that, especially the cats on a leash. Maybe I could just scoop up all the cat crap in my gardens and leave it on the cat owners porch? They probably would care anyway just like many of them don't care about their cats. We have way, way to many cats wandering around that need to be neutered and spayed to prevent all these unwanted, uncared for animals. It is a shame that people aren't responsible pet owners...just like many are irresponsible child bearers! "

just a thought wrote on Jul 27, 2008 8:25 PM:

" Viewpoint: my point was that if they want to adopt pets out instead of murdering them they shouldn't charge so much. I have cats and a dog and they are taken care of but I would much rather spend $120 on other things for my pet other than on my pet. The cost is scaring people off of adoption, that is a lot of murdered animals. "

Beer&Skittles wrote on Jul 27, 2008 8:40 PM:

" Louie: 1) "cat-scratch'fever can be contracted by ways other than cats...they aren't the only thing responsible for it. 2) I get sick of people claiming I'm part of the problem because I have cats. All my cats are indoors only, very well adjusted, have no problem being indoors, they are vetted, neutered, etc. NO ONE BUT ME DEALS WITH THEM. I agree that people who have pets MUST keep them from other people's properties. My cats, my problem, not my neighbors. I hear sooo many people claim it's wrong to keep cats indoors. They are soooo uninformed-it's a shame. How long do outdoor cats live? Not as long as indoor cats. Mine have been with me in excess of 19 years now. "

Maniacal Mom of 6 wrote on Jul 28, 2008 12:10 AM:

" El Gabilon just think, in a few years we will have enough cats to feed the ever increasing human population, maybe you will like kitty-kebabs. I am a responsible pet owner, unfortunatly my cat is a whore and just had 3 kittens before I was able to get her fixed- the little hussy ran out the door and was out for 3 days straight. Normally she is a house kitty, who suns herself on the walkway in the yard. And the cat who did the deed must like her because he now hangs out in my backyard trying to convince her to sneak out again. "

Viewpoint wrote on Jul 28, 2008 9:38 AM:

" Maniacal- Cats which become pregnant can be spayed in that condition. "

kitten wrote on Jul 28, 2008 10:02 AM:

" Maniacal Mom: How can you say you are a responsible pet owner when you also say you let your fertile female cat lay and sun herself on the walkway in the yard? What are you going to do with the three kittens? Are they going to homes where you will be 100% assured that they will also be fixed? Are you keeping them all and getting them fixed yourself? Have you even thought about it or are you planning to take them to the lake and see if you can get a passer-byer to impulsively take home a cute kitten? Better yet, just take them to the pound and let someone else deal with your mistake. "

cheney119 wrote on Jul 28, 2008 4:07 PM:

" From what I understand not all cats are mousers. They are taught by their mothers if they are mousers themselves. Ferral cats cannot fend for themselves that is simply a commonly held misconception, like most things I read on this blog. The only option for the humane society is to euthanize the animals, it's a shame. "

jinxy wrote on Jul 28, 2008 7:17 PM:

" Calm down Louie, not all cat owners are letting their cats crap in your yard. I do agree with you that the ones that do though are VERY irritating! To Just a thought, if the humane society doesn't charge a nominal fee for these animals how are they going to keep the humane society running. I have adopted two dogs and two cats from them. I too would rather have gotten them for free. My family decided it would be better to rescue these animals from a good organization and help both the animals AND the organization out. We have never been sorry. I also agree with Viewpoint that if you can't afford this fee you probably won't be able to properly take care of your animal anyway. "

greenbean wrote on Jul 28, 2008 9:28 PM:

" I feel so sorry for the kittens who don't get adopted. I read this to my daughter - 500 cats in and only 45 adopted, her eyes grew wide when she realized what would happen to the rest. If I could take in another I would, but they are a responsibility, and two is our limit. We love our cats, and they have provided hours of love and entertainment. But, you need to be responsible and have them fixed, and make sure they have their shots, and flea prevention. It adds up, but if you have made a commitment, you need to follow through. "

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