Kitten season stresses shelter limitations
It’s the time of year when Lee County becomes inundated with more and more cats and the number of cats entering Lee County Domestic Animal Services (LCDAS) increases by 34 percent. Pet owners cite cost as the major reason for not sterilizing pets; however, low-cost and even no-cost solutions are now available.
It could be said that we have two primary seasons in Southwest Florida. The first is the season of enviable weather when our winter visitors are here. As temperatures heat up, we enter the second season. Kitten season begins in spring, peaks in the summer, and lasts until fall. It’s the time of year when shelters struggle to deal with the onslaught of unintentional yet preventable births of thousands of felines.
Veterinarians from the University of Florida estimate there are currently 98,000 free-roaming feral and community cats in Lee County. These cats breed prolifically and the pattern of birth and ultimate death for thousands of cats continues. Kittens that don’t die from starvation or predation end up in shelters where there aren’t enough homes to go around. Shelters continue to promote spaying and neutering as the obvious and responsible solution but many pet owners cite cost as a major obstacle.
Lee County officials are pleased to report that low-cost and even no-cost spaying and neutering options are now available to pet owners. “With options available for all income levels, please do not wait until your cat is pregnant before deciding to do something,” urges Donna Ward, LCDAS Director.
LCDAS offers free spay/neuter surgery for cats of owners who receive public assistance their only cost is $8 for a one-year pet license. For owners who do not qualify for the public assistance program, there are several private low-cost spay/neuter clinics in Lee County.
Free spay/neuter surgery is also offered by LCDAS for feral cats through a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Program funded in part through a grant from Florida Animal Friend License Plate sales. Caretakers now may have feral and free-roaming community cats sterilized so they no longer breed. Proponents of TNR advise that feeding feral cats without spaying and neutering isn’t the answer and contributes to thousands of unnecessary deaths each year.
For more information about Lee County Domestic Animal Services programs call 533-7387 (LEE-PETS) or go online to www.LeeLostPets.com.