Do outdoor cats leave their kittens?

Mother cats leave their kittens for short periods to hunt food or taking a break, but they don’t leave their kittens for long unless something happened to her. Mother cats might also reject one or more of her kittens if they are too sick or deformed.

How many outdoor cats are there in the United States?

Although 85 percent of the estimated 75 to 80 million pet cats in the U.S. are already spayed or neutered, many have kittens before they are spayed or neutered. Those kittens, especially if they are allowed outdoors, add to the number of outdoor cats and the problems associated with them.

Is it OK to adopt a kitten from a barn?

Do NOT adopt a kitten from a rescue, shelter, or your neighbor, and put that poor baby outside. This is one of my biggest pet peeves regarding barn cat ownership. Kittens are PREY. Kittens can easily be killed by hawks, owls, coyotes, mountain lions, snakes, and a whole lot more.

Where can I adopt an adult cat in California?

I volunteer for H.A.L.O (Homeless Animals’ Lifeline Organization), a rescue group in Eastern Contra Costa County in California. We take in cats and dogs—adults as well as puppies and kittens. My personal interest is the cats, because I no longer have the physical stamina or strength to keep up with a dog.

Is it easier to adopt an adult cat than a kitten?

Everyone wants to adopt a kitten. Even though there are still far too many of these babies put down at so-called “shelters,” it is still easier to find homes for kittens than for adult cats.

Although 85 percent of the estimated 75 to 80 million pet cats in the U.S. are already spayed or neutered, many have kittens before they are spayed or neutered. Those kittens, especially if they are allowed outdoors, add to the number of outdoor cats and the problems associated with them.

Can a cat live outside in Alley Cat Rescue?

Alley Cat Rescue’s positionOur position at Alley Cat Rescue is not that everyone should open their doors and allow their cats out to roam around outside! We do believe that many cats, especially if given a stimulating environment, can live quite contentedly and healthy indoors, especially in areas where outdoor living is unsafe.

Can a cat be used as an outdoor cat?

Often these cats are used to an outdoor or indoor-outdoor lifestyle, sometimes with little interaction with people. Being in a shelter can be a stressful place, particularly for these cats.

Why are there so many outdoor cats in shelters?

Shelters in a community with a large population of outdoor cats who aren’t spayed or neutered may experience these problems: More cats entering shelters as a result of trapping feral adults and kittens young enough to be socialized (tamed).