Health & Fitness
A Certain Kind of "Cat"astrophe
Cat overpopulation is still a very real problem in Waukesha County...but HAWS is making a difference!
HAWS would like you to know that today, Oct. 16, is National Feral Cat Day.
(Today is also Boss’ Day, and anyone who shares their home with a cat knows there are similarities…but we digress.)
Originally launched by a group called Alley Cat Allies, National Feral Cat Day is designed to improve awareness and welfare of outdoor cats. Millions of these cats are living outside in our communities nationwide, but many are not spayed or neutered, leading to a very real overpopulation problem. Did you know that a single cat and her first litter of kittens can be responsible for the births of almost 500,000 more cats? If one cat = 1.5 million, imagine what will result from a barnyard full of cats…
Waukesha County is home to many, many, MANY outdoor cats! HAWS takes in thousands of cats each year – currently we have dozens available for adoption. Many of these great animals were born outside and have been homeless since birth. Without HAWS stepping in to help, these cats would give birth to more cats (compounding the problem), and could also face an unknown future full of predators, traffic mishaps, extreme temperatures and hunger.
HAWS’ Project Guardian is designed to end cat overpopulation in our community, by offering free spay/neuter surgeries. Project Guardian is also designed to create awareness within our community – to spur our residents to get involved by caring for these cats either through Trap-Neuter-Release in the case of cats that are working on area farms, or through a concentrated effort to rid an area of unwanted cats by trapping and re-homing them.
If you are aware of outdoor or stray cats in your area, please contact HAWS SNIP clinic at 262-542-8851, x109 to spay or neuter them through Project Guardian. When you prevent the birth of more homeless animals and help put an end to animal overpopulation in our community you are literally a life saver!
By the way – this Sunday is our annual Guinea Pig Primer. Come learn more about this great little pets and their care – even bring your pet piggy along to participate in the Guinea Pig Olympic Games…featuring the Sprint for Parsley. This FREE event runs from noon til 4pm – and everyone is welcome!
