Every time you let your cat have kittens, you are killing that same number of kittens somewhere. That's right, even if you find homes for all of them! That is because every time someone adopts one of your kittens, that means that another kitten won't be adopted from the shelter. Even worse, those kittens you give away will have kittens of their own soon, adding to the cat overpopulation problem. Eventually, one of these litters ends up abandoned to die or surrendered to a shelter where they have little chance at life. You may not have to see the kittens suffer and die, but they do so all the same.

Each year thousands of healthy, cute cats and kittens are put to sleep, simply because nobody wants them! There simply are not as many loving homes available as there are cats who need them. Also, people often separate unwanted, newly-born kittens from their mothers and either surrender them to shelters or leave them somewhere to die. These are perhaps the most unfortunate cats in the world. Most shelters will not even attempt to raise newly-born kittens, so they are automatically euthanized. And even if they find a compassionate person to care for them, these tiny kittens already have the odds stacked against them.

You can help stop this meaningless suffering. By spaying or neutering your pets and encouraging others to do so as well, you make it possible for those kittens already born to have a chance. The procedure is very safe and the cat is usually happily playing be the very next day. Neutering and spaying also makes better and more contented pets by stopping undesirable behaviors like spraying and aggression in males, and heat cycles in females. It can also reduce the chances of your pet contracting fatal cancers and improves their general health. There are programs that provide low-cost neutering and spaying - please ask us about them.

S ure, kittens are cute and fun to have around, but you can still have all the joys of kittens without breeding your own cats. Town Cats and other rescue organizations are always in need of foster homes for orphaned kittens or surrendered momma cats with litters. We would be delighted to have your help. You can enjoy the kittens' antics, teach children important lessons about caretaking and responsibility and also have the satisfying feeling of being part of the solution, not the problem.

Still not convinced? Ask us about Taun-Taun and Eeep. They were thrown onto a driveway at 3 days old and left to die. Ask about Tang and Kai. They were taken from their mother the hour they were born and left in a shopping mall. Ask about Aporia. She died on her two week birthday...because someone didn't neuter their pet.