There are 113 cats in our building today* and another 22 out in our foster care program. One of the reasons why we have so many is because most stray cats go unclaimed.
Last fiscal year, 307 stray cats and kittens were brought to the Potter League; 63 were claimed by their owners.
Compare this to dogs. Last fiscal year, 289 stray dogs were brought to the Potter League. 277 were claimed by their owners. Most stray dogs go home, most stray cats go up for adoption.
Why the difference?
According to Kat Albtrecht of the Missing Pet Partnership has studied the behavior of missing animals. She reports that cat owners do not understand how a lost cat behaves and they do not know how to properly search for a missing cat. Although they desperately want to find their pets, they often give up searching after a few days or weeks.
When an indoor cat escapes, the cat usually hides in a place that offers concealment and protection. And will remain there, immobilized. The key to finding the cat is finding the hiding place. These cats are usually hiding close to home.
When cats with regular outdoor access go missing, it means something has interrupted their daily routines. Either they were frightened into hiding by another animal or a person or they have become trapped in a place like a basement or a garage. Usually these cats are within a seven house radius of the edge of their territory.
The normal reaction by owners to lost cats is to post flyers in the neighborhood and expect results. The problem is that cats are very good at hiding and often are not spotted by neighbors. During the first few weeks, the owner continues to search and then eventually gives up. When the cat finally emerges weeks or months later, it is then brought to the animal shelter.
If your cat is missing, please file a report with your animal control officer and the Potter League. Continue to seek out places in your neighborhood where your cat could be hiding. Don’t give up; keep checking with us at the Potter League. You can access a list of all the stray animals that are at the shelter on our website.
Identification can be a stray animal’s ticket home. One way to get your cat returned quickly if it is brought to the shelter is to have him or her micro-chipped. Also make sure your cat wears a safety collar and ID tag.
*Statistics for August 16, 2011