How much is really being done to help homeless cats in America?

Question

My heart always breaks when I see a stray cat living behind a building, in an alleyway, or underneath a wooden patio; hungry, crying because it hasn't eaten in days. Sometimes, it's partially blind or crippled because of an unfortunate accident, or because some sick a**hole has been throwing rocks at it. It tears me up inside. "But what about people"? You might ask. Don't you care about people? Sure I do! But a lot of people are perfectly capable of getting a job--any job. But they don't want to. They want to sit around on their butt, and wait for a government handout. I'm not saying that every homeless person is like that, but many are. Cats can't apply for a job. Millions of them suffer and die every year through the world. So what is really being done to help THEM? If you hate cats--or ANY animals, don't bother posting a snide remark. If you do, I'll only report you.

I like all the answers I see so far. Obviously, there are still a lot of people who really do care. No, I don't let my cats out. But I did adopt two females (sisters), that I found in my backyard.
One a tiger-striped tabby, and the other a cute siamese. They are well loved, fed and taken care of.

Answer 1

There are a lot of groups working on trap-neuter-release (TNR) programs. They are very effective. I work with a humane society and we often help the often help our local TNR group by doing spays and neuters for them. We are also part of countywide coalition that takes kittens from feral mom cats, hand raises them so they are tame, neuters and spays them and then places for adoption. Here is more on TNR.

Answer 2

Some people don't think so, but I really feel if someone does not have the heart to love animals then they don't have much of a heart at all. I currently have 4 cats and if I could I would have more but there is still so many out there that don't have homes and breaks my heart. I think about all the animal cruelty there is in this world and I will never understand it. Most people are just sooo cruel! I wish if there is life after death that those people would come back as an animal without a home to see how they like it. And if people want to get thier children a pet just to get rid of it when it grows up they should just get them a stuffed animal.

Answer 3

I love animals and my problem is I want to take them all in. I have 7 cats. All of them were strays. Most were sick when they came to us. Starving and one had been beaten and had its tail cut off! I think that not all people should be able to own an animal only responsible pet owners who have their pets fixed and taken to the vet on a regular basis. I cannot turn away when an animal is suffering. I know that most people around here are not sensitive to the suffering of animals. They will walk right passed them and never try to help. I do not know what is wrong with society these days! Another thing that makes me mad is when someone buys their spoiled brat a pet and the kid gets tired of it and they end up throwing the poor thing out on the street! Really makes me mad! I just feel so helpless because the need for adoption of these animals is so enormous! One of my cats got out by accident and I do not know where she is. I am looking all over for her so I have to cut this short, but say a prayer for my little baby ......thanks! If you said a prayer....it worked because she is back!

Answer 4

I totally agree! In fact, I have 20 cats right now, all indoor too, because I simply can't stand to see a stray one. I instantly catch it, take it to the vet to get checked out and get shots and fixed, and then bring it to a warm loving home here. I live in a county that doesn't even have a humane society, so its bad here. I'm hoping in a few years to start a cat rescue in my area. But I do think more should be done. 9 lives cat food is on that tour to help a million cats find homes, maybe people should donate to things like that more!

Answer 5

There are many people who love animals and want to help them. When my mom and I moved into our home, we saw right away that there were about 40 stray cats in the neighborhood. My neighbor and I brought many of them into our homes and adopted them. I learned the hard way that cats that have been outside are exposed to deadly viruses.
I have fought illness with several of them and I have lost . I sometimes wonder if I did the right thing bringing them in but I then realize that whatever time the vet and I can give them is more than they would have had if they had remained outside .
Yet, it is heartbreaking but I would do it again in a minute. Keep caring about the animals, you have much support.

Answer 6

I live in West Palm Beach Florida we have several organizations here who trap feral cats -spay or neuter them and return them to where they were found. If the cats are friendly they find them homes. But I am certain you have seen how most stray cats are not friendly and are not able to be turned into pets. I used to live in a mobile home and a feral cat had two kittens under the trailer. I got the kittens and took one to a local vet who found her an awesome home and I kept the other. The mother cat wasn't willing to be a pet. But both of her "babies" have wonderful lives. If you feel strongly about helping stray cats. Start a program in your area. Animal control will usually allow you to borrow a cage. Put a can of cat food inside and check it daily. Good luck -k-

Answer 7

No snide remarks from me. I have two cats. I don't let them out. I feel like you do. I have a friend that rehomes unwanted animals. I'm in England, but I'm from America. I do know the Denver Dumb Friends League is a no-kill shelter. Unfortunately, not enough is being done. Too many people let their animals run loose. Too many animals run loose here too. A lot of kids get pets at xmas and end up not caring for them so they are turned loose.

Answer 8

Not a lot that I know of. Perhaps there are a few more families like mine that take in the random strays, and there are shelters I've seen with huge room absolutely crawling with cats, but it's a problem. We have four cats right now. One whos mother was one of "our" strays while we lived in Turkey. The mom, Tiger, gave birth to five underneath a car. We kept the runt and still have her nine years and three moves later. Then there's Bob-o, a rescue from a shelter in Hawaii. Mr. Chip, a kitten that a down-the-road neighbor was not taking care of *leaving out a dish of food and leavinga 6week old kitten to it's own devices outside, in the wood, is flat out stupid* that "followed" me home in my hoodie pocket after talking the neighbor into letting me have him. Last there's Pooter, a stray that invited himself in with his sister, but she wound up going to a shelter while I was at a friend's house because she was not a people cat. In my mind, that was all the more reason to keep her, as she prolly wasn't adopted out very fast, if ever.

We've had literally dozens of others, most of which were given to friends when we had to move. that military thing really sucked.

Anyways, I wish that there was something else that could be done, but all it takes is for one idiot to losehis intact female, and in five years there's 65,000 cats running around sprung from her and hers and theirs.

Answer 9

People who don't spay or neuter their pets really need to think about why they haven't done that yet.

I can't take in any cats, and it makes me feel so sad when so many need homes.

B.T.W. caring a lot about animal suffering does not mean you care a little about human suffering. What humanitarian can ignore the suffering of any living creature?

Answer 10

well im happy there is still someone like you who cares for stray cats or any kind animals. me and my husband have the same feeling like you. i think there is little possibility or help we can get from u.s. concerning this subject..that is why everyday me and my husband feed stray cats at nights, any cats we see in the street we throw them piece of chicken that we buy from the restaurant which are leftover by the customers on their plate. we go to the restaurant and pay the leftover food and start distributing on the stray cats. we are so happy doing this everynight and nearly we feed about 40 cats daily from the street. i wish only people who doesnt like cats not to throw stones on the cats and dont hurt them at all.
just leave them alone. i really hope will find way to help those pity creatures. thanks for caring too.