Do County Animal Control centers make any attempt to rehabilitate stray cats....?

Question

Or do they just euthanize them right away?

Answer 1

I think it probably differs depending on the center.

What my Animal Control center does is holds stray cats for five days. If nobody comes to claim them, then they're evaluated by the veterinarians to make sure they're clear of diseases and behaviorally OK for adoption. If they pass, they're spayed/neutered if they haven't been already, and they go up for adoption, where they usually stay until they're adopted, or if a cat has been there for an extremely long time (usually, upwards of six months.. we have lots of space, so we try not to euthanize adoptable cats) and is deteriorating, or if we need more room, then they're euthanized.

For feral cats, however, they usually end up getting euthanized after the five days.

Answer 2

It depends on the city's policy and individual shelter. There are some that hold animals only for the stated number of days (to give the owner the chance to claim it), and then euthanize them because there's not enough space.

Some shelters try to keep some un-claimed animals for months, until they can be adopted. But the shelter will look at the age of the animal, the sex (un-neutered older males are rarely adopted, and so will likely be put down), and it's health. Any animal with problems (disease, biting, spraying, etc.) will not be put up for adoption.

If you have a pet you feel you can't take care of anymore (although I hope you didn't get a pet, only to decide it was inconvenient), please try to find a home for it through friends or a rescue group first. Local animal control services are over-whelmed as it is, and it's stressful for the animals to have to go through that as well, even if they do eventually get adopted.
Millions (and it is MILLIONS) of cats and dogs nationwide are euthanized at animal shelters every year.

Answer 3

Adult feral cats usually cannot make suitable pets, especially without lots and lots of work. Humane societies, much less Animal Controls, do not have the time or staff to do this. They usually euthanize them. Young kittens can be rehabilitated.

Strays, however, that have been raised around people, can usually become pets very very easily. Not much rehabilitation is involved with normal strays.

Answer 4

Contact a group called Alley Cat Allies. They can tell you of any groups in your area that neuter, vaccinate, and then release the strays back in their home area. This has been determined to be the best way to control the feral cat population because it discourages new, unneutered colonies from moving into the area. Most shelters will not take ferals unless they are very young because adults are as vicious as any raccoon or similar wild animal and rarely allow themselves to be tamed. Do not handle ferals on your own! You could be seriously injured or contact disease or infection.

I've been in your situation before. A local group helped me to control the population in my neighborhood by using the method above.

Good Luck!

Answer 5

sad fact...i dont think they do
i brought in 2 beautiful grey sisters to the Everett Shelter and they said that they would try and find them wonderful homes....being the gullible 13 year old i was...i believed them and persistanty called and checked on them..they had a ID number that i learned to memorize, when i brought them in i told the lady who handled them that they needed to go together becuase they had been living outside my gradnmas apartment for a very long time...one had already lost part of her tail and was very thin...even though she ate my grandmas bird...(sad story) but anyways

about a week after i brought them in i was told they were both euthanized...one got sick and they said that they couldnt help her..i HIGHLY doubt they even tried...and the other one was killed becuase THEY DIDNT HAVE ANY ROOM FOR NEW ANIMALS!
SO WHAT!
omg people like that really REALLY piss me off....and the saddest part was..
once the first one died my mom said i could adopt the other one if i could earn the money myself....80 dollars.... so i took out trash for 50 cents and then i sold my computer stand and some books my bike and my old bed i finally had the 80 dollars and then they told me they put her to sleep..
ooo weee that made me mad!
idk about other people and other places...but as far as these ppl go....they dont even try to help them

Answer 6

Our animal shelters do try to rehabilitate cats. We have a no-kill policy and only very sick animals are euthanized.

Right now there is an epidemic of cats at the society. If anyone is reading this, please give a donation to your local animal shelter, or better yet, if you can afford it and have lots of love to give, please consider adopting a cat for your home. They will be best buddies for life.

Answer 7

well here in Vermillion County, Indiana, they try really hard to rehabilitate their cats....find homes etc etc it is only in extreme cases that they euthanize them....and if more people were responsible pet owners and have them sayed or neutered....we would NOT be having this problem.....

Answer 8

Not sure about any other city but I know for sure that Miami Dade County in Florida Euthanizes them immidiatley.