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What you need to know about cats

In response to “Penny’s Journey”
[Our Town Feb. 1 edition] this is a perfect time to talk about responsible pet ownership. When you take on a pet, it’s for the lifetime of that animal.

Adopting a Cat/Kitten: When considering adoption, you are committing to the life of that cat. Cats can live to be 20 years old. If you rent, you will always need to rent where pets are allowed. If you get married, have a baby, change jobs, or move, the cat goes with you. 

Indoor/Outdoor Cats: Cats do not need access to outside to be happy. Domestic Cats should NOT go outside. Feral barn cats are a different story and live on farms or nurseries, but still need shelter, heat, food, clean water and veterinary care. Cats must be indoors where they are safe from being hit by a car, poisoned, shot, mauled by another animal or a host of other fatal endings. Want your cat to enjoy the great outdoor smells and sights? Build a “catio” onto your home with a pet door for access. 

Helping a Cat in Need: When you encounter an emaciated, injured, or sick cat, take that cat to the vet immediately or contact a rescue for help. Especially in the freezing Oregon winters, never put a cat back outside, who has come in needing help. 

Spay/Neuter: It’s been difficult for everyone these last two years with veterinary hospitals doing all they can to catch up, even with reduced hours and staff. “Kitten Season,” is now year-round. It is still your responsibility to keep your cats indoors and make sure they are spayed and neutered. Pyometra is a uterine infection in females that can kill. Unneutered males will fight to get outside and will spray. Spraying is the #1 reason male cats are turned into shelters or dumped outside. Fixing your cat early (four months old) alleviates so many problems.

Microchips: Make sure your information is up-to-date. Accidents happen and cats get out when there is a pet sitter, or your teenager leaves a door open. An up-to-date microchip is the way your beloved cat gets back home to you. It costs nothing to update the information and it can save your cat’s life. Collars should be safety break-away collars, but microchips are best. 

Finally, be kind to the tireless cat rescue people you see out and about. We are doing the hard work to help the cats
who humanity has let down. We recover the bodies when they are hit by cars so families can have closure.
We rescue, spay/neuter and find well vetted homes for dumped cats. We provide vaccinations and cat food for cats in the care of seniors on fixed incomes. We are constantly on the lookout to help find your lost cat and bring him/her home to you. We provide warm feral cat houses, and more. Our greatest hope is that these services are no longer needed someday. Responsible pet ownership goes a long way to help. 

Kimberlee Turner
Purrl Paws Rescue,
Silverton