Euthenasia?

How would I know what they do in Asia, let alone with their youth?

Brilliant, Mr Freedom!

thanks for the laugh! I needed that today!

How unbelievably cruel it is to do this to any living animal!?!?!?! I have had all my pets find me, not the other way around. They are here for a reason too, you know.... I really think that cats and dogs have feelings and emotions, much like humans. I have had many pets, and there really is a sync between them and those that they choose to be their owners (I know that they think you are one of them). But to randomly kill them is quite inhumane.... So much for the "humane society"

Bad Karma to those who would of tried making third try a charm!!!!

Oh, and all of you people that think these animals should never be put down; fine, you put up the money to take care of them or adopt them yourselves.

So if an animal doesn't have a home, killing it is a "mercy." Really? The strays in my neighborhood seem to get on just fine, and do a great job of taking care of themselves (with a little help from some of us). Just because they don't have a home is no reason to kill them. If it were, we'd just start putting bullets into people sleeping on park benches (though I am sure there are some politicians who would love to do that). The only time an animal should be killed is if it is suffering with no hope of cure or, in extreme circumstances, pose a serious danger.

RowdyRenee

How unbelievably cruel it is to do this to any living animal

Would it suit you better to do it to a dead animal? I myself have rescued 3 shelties from public shelters, kept them unril they died of old age, but I can't have another one.

The pet population is out of control.It is better than turning them loose to starve to death.

Well, strays -- especially cats -- can lead to feral cat colonies which can lead to a lot of diseases the cats can suffer dearly from such as FIV.

And I don't know where you live, voiceontheleft, but midwest winters can get quite harsh and are very hard on strays. They suffer tremendously.

Also, females cats that are not spayed (and most strays are not) have a high likelihood of getting breast cancer. The percentages vary depending where you look, but most put the likelihood in the mid- to high 90% range. The more litters of kittens they have, the higher their chances of getting cancer.

But cats -- like any animal -- do a really good job of hiding their illness and pain for survival reasons. So you really don't know those cats by you are doing "fine" and by the time they do show signs of illness, it's usually too late.

I am a HUGE animal advocate and it saddens me that even one animal must be euthanized due to lack of homes, but I also understand why this has to happen. However, I don't agree with the way the animals are euth'ed. Gas chambers are just terrible as are heartsticks.

Since you are against "mercy killings", voiceontheleft, I ask that you contact your nearest shelter/animal control or do some online research and find the closest TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) group near you. They trap the cats, spay/neuter them, ear tip them so they are id'ed as being spay/neutered, and then put them back where they came from. You could even volunteer some time to help trap cats (they train you) or donate some money. Or donate to a low-cost spay/neuter clinic, even to help offset the cost for someone who can't afford the full price even though it is low. This might prevent an animal from getting pregnant and the owner then "dumping" it because they can't afford/don't want to deal with babies.

This not only keeps down the unwanted animal population (one unspayed female cat can start a 'generational line' of hundreds -- if not thousands -- of cats in just a few short years if neither she nor her offspring are 'fixed' and left to breed unchecked), this will prevent more animals from being needlessly being put down (they won't be born!).

If everyone does just a little bit... A LOT can be changed and made better.

Here in Denver, most shelters are no kill shelters. When a good friend of mine died last year, one of these shelters was able to find a loving home for his 13 yr old (highly vocal) Siamese cat. When an animal does have to be put down ,due to terminal illness etc, it is done compassionately via a lethal injection whlile a staff member, and or the owner, comfort the animal as they pass....not by a gas chamber.

Dana thanks for your info, I have worked in a low cost spay and neuter clinic for over a year and we have a catch and release program too. We average 50-100+ cats a day 5 days a week and have a massive feral cat clinic once a month that we will do 200-300. After a couple of years we are finally starting to see results in the colonies. To fill in your generational line, one female cat having only 2 litters a year with five kittens each will generate 1,000,000 cats in 8 years!

Feral cats kill a lot of birds. So letting them lose is bad. If you can't keep it you put it down.

Devil's Son... this is discussed further down and I believe I came up with a feasible solution. ;-D

Sweetness... maybe if you name your organization and a few others, people might get inspired to help out as they can. I named the "Spay Me!" low-cost clinic in Wisconsin further down when they helped me/us spay 12 cats in a short time. Now I'm SO Loyal to them and what they truly stand for. And even if I can't always donate that much, I help as much as I can and donate even tidbits of cash or will 'sponser' "half a spay/neuter" -- and people find a way to come up with half if some stranger is willing to come up with the other half... but it's all about Population Control and helping those without a voice.

These gentle animals have No Voice -- except for those who are willing to stand up for them. They just want a family of their own and to be properly loved... and are ending up in gas chambers. If these animals were responsibly spayed and neutered we wouldn't have this problem.

And back to Devil's Son... here's my solution as I mentioned to 'Spike' -- YOU can be a part of the solution instead of complaining about the problem (how cool is that!?!?!)

I agree with you, Spike. Cats do kill too many birds each year -- many that are threatened or endangered. This past summer I've also seen a cat attack a Monarch butterfly just in play, but the butterfly died and Monarchs are struggling due to lack of milkweed and that severe weather they had while wintering in Mexico.

But none of this is the cat's "Fault". Cats are just doing what cats do. The problem is that there are too many cats.

I don't know what the cat-to-bird killing ratio is, but if you would like to lessen it, please donate your time with your area TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) program to help trap and spay/neuter cats -- thus preventing more -- or donate some money to a low-cost spay/neuter clinic.

Think of it as for every cat spayed/neutered 5+ birds are saved because there'll be that many less cats in the future to kill birds. ;-)

Oh, and all of you people that think these animals should never be put down; fine, you put up the money to take care of them or adopt them yourselves

I have. I've rescued hundreds of cats, and paid for their vet bills, and food. I don't believe in euthanizing unless they are really ill and suffering.

Bless you, Becca! I am "pack leader" to 2 rescued mutts who came to me as neglected and abused neighbors. Their first families didn't know that animals need food, shelter, attention, and love. They have all they can handle now!

"She's definitely got some will to live."

If I tortured a cat through misguided incompetence I'd be in jail.

Alan, obviously you're a cat hating troll with a simple mind and no love anything but yourself. Go find a nice busy intersection to lay in and meditate. If that doesn't work then go to the nearest vet and get neutered and euthanized ASAP

What kind of cruel human being would have gassed the poor cat a second time after it survived the first time??

Humans domesticated the creatures it is the humans fault it is out of control..

We now spend more money on shelters than ever, granted some of it is donations it is still a man made problem when the money should be going to a human cause. No worries I like animals more than some people to God knows we're confused.

It's nice to know I'm not alone in my believe that none is the cats fault. We domesticated them and we ARE responsible for their well-being. We are responsible for the over-population and it deeply saddens me that so many are "put down". I have myself rescued many, have 8 now (all "fixed" and indoors and rescues) and it's amazing the love they give you back. Unfortunately in all those years of rescue I just rescued a stray that is the sweetest little guy, but unfortunately FIV positiv. Trying to find him a home is impossible. Obviously he must have been owned by somebody (his sweet disposition), so I'm assuming they found out he was sick and dumped him. (He also was not neutered). I hope I can give him a couple of good years he has left (vet mentioned euthanasia), I just feel bad to keep him in a room separated from the others. (Still better than outside in the cold I guess) And so many good souls don't have that chance. What a lucky cat Andrea is. I wish her many, many good years to be spoiled- she deserves it. And please people: spay and neuter, be responsible

what gets me is if we are suffering they want to pump as much medicine in us as they can especially if we have insurance. But animals hey gas is to inhumane for humans so guess they use it on the animals. They can not say what it does so people play God and decide whether or not an animal will or not live. Gee wonder what those people dream about? But you have to have a conscience to dream don't you????

patzy,

I just hope more people will realize how many cats need homes.

And many more need to be spayed or neutered. Its irresponsible people that so not spay or neuter their pets, and the result is all these unwanted dogs and cats that nobody wants. Severe fines should be imposed on those responsible to pay for all of this.

I agree with you alan290. Maybe if that happened people would be more careful with animals. Maybe there should be a tax write off for pet expenses? That might clean out the shelters and make people pay more attention to taking care of animals. Now, that being said there would have to be rules for having a tax write off for having an animal or otherwise people will get the animals for the write off then do who knows what to them!

Devil's Son...your name suits you! I can only hope that you do not own or have access to any animals. What you suggest is disgusting and disturbing...

Devil,

you're a sad excuse for a human being!

@ LadyVols

you say disgusting, many starving people would say yummy!

Im sure it beats rice 7 days a week.

Thanks Bob.

HELL YES!! SPAY, NEUTER & ADOPT!!

Now if we could just convince the Duggars

Yes, do spay & neuter but also push for more low cost clinics wherever you live. Where I live, there just aren't that many. The last stray tom I just had neutered cost me $169.00 !! And they use to be a "low cost" clinic. They claim they match the cost of the certificate that you can get from the humane society, but then they tack on this charge, then that charge and then there you are over $100.00. Needless to say, I won't be using them again, but it is tough to find an affordable vet when the word is out there on the kitty grapevine that I am a sucker for strays. 4 so far, but I swear, thats the last one :)

I agree! I have neighbors who have two female dogs that they leave outside, free to do as they please anywhere in the neighborhood. Both have gotten pregnant soooo many times and the neighborhood was overrun with dogs for a while. Finally, one of our other nieghbors picked up the dogs (without permission) and had them spayed. The puppies were, unfortunately, sent to the pound. SPAY AND NEUTER YOUR ANIMALS!

How about keeping the cats controlled and restrained? If cats were not kept as pets, they would be killed as the pests that they are. Rats that purr.

Cats are murderers of birds, and I do not appreciate the "land-mines", that they leave behind.

spike, you're confusing cats with dogs. I never heard of a cat mauling a child to death or biting mail men or forming packs of dangerous animals. If you want to see a rat, check the mirror.

alerrant,

Read VERY, VERY slowly. I never mentioned children, mailmen, or roaming packs. Why did you?

What is more amazing, is that your inane response gets thumbs-up!

Cats kill about 1,000,000,000 birds a year. That is billion! Not million!

I agree with you, Spike. Cats do kill too many birds each year -- many that are threatened or endangered. This past summer I've also seen a cat attack a Monarch butterfly just in play, but the butterfly died and Monarchs are struggling due to lack of milkweed and that severe weather they had while wintering in Mexico.

But none of this is the cat's "Fault". Cats are just doing what cats do. The problem is that there are too many cats.

I don't know what the cat-to-bird killing ratio is, but if you would like to lessen it, please donate your time with your area TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release) program to help trap and spay/neuter cats -- thus preventing more -- or donate some money to a low-cost spay/neuter clinic.

Think of it as for every cat spayed/neutered 5+ birds are saved because there'll be that many less cats in the future to kill birds. ;-)

Hey "spike"

Its called nature. Get out a book, read it.

Actually more birds die from losing habitat than from cats; they die at the hands of humans more than cats... You must understand that Everyone has the same goal: Less cats through spay/neuter. Suggesting that its humane to kill them in mass amounts (more than birds) is ridiculous and inhumane. Too many cats is a human made problem, TNR, Spay Neuter and NO KILL shelters are the answer not the devil.....try fighting off some of the developers instead of looking for a scapegoat (*cats) They are the real bird killers. Or the person who just wants the cat to have one litter.......hating all cats is foolish.

Cindy Martin -- spot on. 7 billion people and the resources they require kill more birds and other wildlife each year than kitty cats can even dream of.

Fact: Over 100 million birds a year die from smashing into windows in North America alone. No, it's not a billion, but it is still a big number. To add to this, I wonder how many more die from car and airplane strikes. There has also been discussions about wind turbines and their contribution to bird deaths. What are we humans going to do about these things? It's not just cats that are the problem. Just saying.....

Fred, the house cat is not native to America. It is an invasive species.

Devil's son -- Species native to North America have included camels, cheetahs, woolly mammoths and dinosaurs, among others. Cats kill rodents and provide companionship and resulting health benefits to humans. Cats were brought to this country for those very reasons and, in fact, are credited with helping start human civilizations because of those qualities. Human activity is the main cause for loss of birds and their habitats. So what's your point, besides trolling?

Good job cats, I hate birds.

Savage... I was just going to say the same thing... HAH! I absolutely despise birds.

I wish spike had picked somewhere else to dump his hate of cats.

This one really has nine lives. Seven left.

Yeah....they gave up too soon

Then enters reality.

Just in my neighborhood alone, the cat problem is getting out of control. I am always wiping cat prints off my cars and animal control has all but given up.

Until pet owners stop abandoning their animals and not getting them spayed or neutered, there will always be a need to humanely put them down.

There are not nearly enough people out there to adopt all the strays. Let alone house them all indefinitely. Everyone in my neighborhood could adopt two cats and we wouldn't even put a dent in the problem. Then there is always next mating season to deal with.

There are millions of stray cats out there and the numbers are only growing.

Suzanne Bonilla,

Yeah, right. And you pay for them. Not me.

NY Mike,

Buy a good trap, then take them to the shelter if the cat doesn't have a collar and tag where you can call the owner.

alan, my day is non stop as it is. I hardly have time to play animal catcher because others are irresponsible.

It's damn near an epidemic in my neighborhood. Unless the city gets serious about this, even trapping 20 cats would mean nothing.

NYMike your town needs to start a catch and release program for the feral/stray population. It'll take a couple of years but it will really control the colonies

I have trouble with the shelters that gas animals because they are unwanted. They don't try hard enough to find homes.....

@ sweetness

Yeah let them be a problem for somebody else.

That's the spirit!

@ alumett

what would you have them do? Hold on to the stray animals until they are packed in like sardines? We would be reading a story about the squallier of animal shelters where disease and parasites run rampant.

I say shoot'em. Much more humane in my opinion.

Personally, i would rather be shot than gassed.

Erock how is a catch and release program making it a problem for someone else? These programs help control the population

you catch it in your area then release it in someone else's area.

You have the wrong idea what a catch and release program is. Strays and feral are caught brought to a veterinary facility for a spay or neuter, observed for several days to ensure no issues with the surgery than released in the same place they were caught. It does take several years to start to see the numbers diminish but it really is the best way to control the population

oh my mistake sweetness, i stand corrected.

that actually seems like a sound idea.

i apologize for my smart-ass remark.

hear, hear! How very true....there is nothing "humane' about euthanasia, it is ending a life prematurely and undeservedly. The broad answer is spay and neuter, but also needs to be enforced by implementing hefty fines for refusing to do so, and making it less cost effective to run a puppy mill---like illegalizing it and putting some teeth into the law to make it hurt! I don't know how anyone could be the one to press the button to turn on the gas to these animals and still look at themselves in a mirror.

Which is less humane? Euthanasia or Starvation?

Cats have no natural predators (Except maybe coyotes) and breed quickly (average first heat 5-7 months of age, up to 5 litters per year of an average of 3 kittens per litter). Do the math on that - 1 breeding pair can produce 12-15 kittens in a year and that doesn't count the kittens produced having offspring (a female in the first litter could have had 2-3 litters by the end of the year). The math doesn't lie - yes spay and neuter, but that doesn't do an effective job keeping up with ferrel animals and/or abandoned litters.

Finally, do you really think the people running shelters get their jollies killing cats? I have a feeling it isn't something they like about their job. We don't live in a perfect world.

Ummm...it's not that humans "don't want them to live" - jeez, go volunteer at a shelter and you'll find that pretty much everyone who works or volunteers there loves animals and has rescued a few of their own pets from death's door. There are simply not enough homes for most of these creatures.

A cat can live for 20 years and using the above equation for breeding that Battsman gives - that equals a lot o kittens to find homes for. There are a lot of irresponsible pet owners out there who don't spay and neuter, so unless cats and dogs become a commodity (i.e. a source of food for humans) there will ALWAYS be a need for shelters that kill.

It's sad. It's a waste of life. But it's nothing that will ever change as long as humans let their pets breeding go unchecked.

battsman- up to 5 litters a year? way to back up your argument with blatant exaggeration...

i thought this was the most ridiculous statement someone could make! Obviously the cat wants to live just like all of the other animals in these shelters! unbelievable! it would be great if humans would be more responsible with animals so they all have a loving home.

Do YOUR homework, homework 5 litters a year isn't impossible, cats go into heat every 3 weeks, gestate for approx 60 days and kittens weened after 2 months. The mother can get pregnant very shortly after giving birth will still feeding the previous litter. So yes 5 litters in a feral cat or one owned by an irresponsible human isn't impossible or unheard of.

From Wiki:

Females can have two to three litters per year, so may produce up to 150 kittens in their breeding span of around ten years.

Unfortunately, this is not "blatent exaggeration," doyourhomework,America! You didn't do your homework on this one, but that's okay. Nobody can know everything about everything -- and a cat having 5 litters a year might sound outlandish unless you personally know or have experience with that. It's not a subject most people would research. ;-)

I've always been an animal advocate, but a few years ago my focus changed to really emphasizing and raising awareness for the importance of spay/neuter.

I work at a group home and there was a problem with people dumping unwanted animals at our facility. I guess they figured we are Caring people and would do right by the animals.

This BEAUTIFUL Russian Blue cat turned up -- she clearly had been someone's pet and was very gentle and loving with all of our clients and even liked to ride in the car! She was just under (or around) a year old, but was terribly emaciated. We thought she must've gotten lost and someone was missing her frantically. We did everything in our power to reunite her with her family... called shelters... posted flyers... posted on craigslist... No one ever came looking for her. And cats really don't go too far from home. As wonderful as she was... she got dumped.

As we fed her and took care of her it came to light that she was not only pregnant... SHE WAS READY TO POP! In about 2 1/2 weeks time she went from emaciated to lumbering with babies. One of the Staff was going to take her home to not only give her a safe place to have her babies, but keep her -- but she disappeared for 3 days. When we saw her again, she was no longer pregnant.

Long story, but we finally found/could trap the kittens when they were almost 3 months old (and FERAL!)... AND THE MOM WAS ALREADY PREGNANT AGAIN! She was nursing these 4 kittens while pregnant with another batch -- which turned out to be 7 more kittens.

Between Aug 1 - 3 and the second week of November, this one cat had 2 litters totalling 11 kittens. And we were told we had "about 6 months" to get them spayed/neutered... but 2 of the females went into heat shortly after we trapped them -- and they were only 14 weeks old! Their mom was pregnant with the second batch of babies and these first babies were still nursing on her! Here's kittens that aren't even weaned, ready to make some babies!

We got all 4 of those kittens (3 females and a male) promptly "fixed" and her 2nd batch 'fixed' at 12 weeks before they were re-homed... and Momma, as well, as soon as she was done nursing. She was frickin' in heat again!

From personal experience, 5 litters in a year is certainly possible. Maybe not all cats are that fertile, but some are.

And I'm VERY thankful to the "Spay Me!" Clinic in Wisconsin (low-cost, no matter what your income) for listening to our dilemma and helping us out when we had 12 cats to spay/neuter in a very short period of time to stop this craziness.

5 litters of kittens in a year? As outlandish as it may sound... it happens.

Please help advocate to getting these animals spayed and neutered. We have a SERIOUS over-population problem!

Danabana

Please keep your comments to 3,000 words. Thank youu.

If you can't handle long posts, try Twitter.

And there are programs which offer low-cost or no-cost spaying and neutering services. I have owned many cats and dogs over the years, and I always had them spayed or neutered. All of them "found" me, instead of me "finding" them. My mother-in-law jokes that when she dies, she wants to be re-incarnated as one of my pets. She says that there must be a sign on my front door, one that only animals can see, which says "Soft touch inside- please meow/yip cutely to apply for permanent residency". :)

One of my cats was pregnant when she "found" me; she had one kitten, which I gave to my niece and nephew. I wish I had kept her; my sister-in-law never had her spayed, and she had about 40 kittens before she disappeared one night. The descendants of those kittens wander freely around my sister-in-law's property, and they reproduce at will. I had the mother cat spayed after her one kitten was weaned, and she is now 16 years old. I just don't understand people who want to keep pets, but don't take proper care of them.

I have a cat you might want to try. She won't go anywhere - even if you want her to.

She's not picky and doesn't need Fancy Feast. She does require pretty much non-stop petting and will basically have a nervous breakdown when you're doing something that doesn't involve petting her.

I can send her to you for a free no obligation trial. I guarantee you she won't run away, but you might want to after a few days of it.

Ummm...okay.

Flint Ingersol SR

Sounds like you should be gassed.

This should make your day. It just makes most people sick.

http://www.examiner.com/dogs-in-national/undercover-investigation-by-peta-video

What does PETA have to do with this? It doesn't say anywhere the shelter is affiliated with them. While I'm not a fan of them it seems pretty tangential to rant about them on a story of a cat too badass to die.

Refer to the post I responded to Eric and a bunch of numerals. He brought up PETA and I agree with you. But I always take an opportunity to expose people to the awful things people do. Animals rights are important to me and shelters that kill are just archaic. I figure people reading the comments will pass on the link to the investigation.

Animal rights are very important to me too, I'm vegan and have fostered animals as well as plenty of rescues hogging my couch right now lol. I read the link and while I couldn't watch the video I was surprised they're allowed to stay open. I personally feel PETA turns more folks off than they would if they approached certain issues in a different way, which is why I personally don't really care for them.

The eyes of the public are shut pretty tightly to the abuse of animals. I am not talking about mundane abuse here. I am talking about absolutely heart stopping cruelty. Sick people. When I cannot watch a video because my mind has shut down, it says a lot. I don't love PETA but I don't hate them either. They do good and bad. There are currently several state bills seeking to criminalize this kind of video, the taking of pictures on a farm without express rights being granted. Imagine! The PETA exposers are the criminals. Something stinks and it is politics.

Look around your area - most shelters, animal rescue groups, etc. offer low or no cost spaying and neutering. I can think of at least 3 associations in my area alone where you can get a cat fixed (and shots to boot) for under $30. Generally pets don't get fixed because the owners are simply too LAZY to bother having it done.

I've done this, its not as hard as you might think,

Get a live trap, often the feral clinics will even loan you one, put a can of smelly cat food in it, put a blanket over it, over night the cat will go for the food and sprint the trap, then you can take it to the spay / neuter clinic.

I did this with my feral pet and worried that she would take off once I got her back home from the clinic, but no, she was there for dinner the very next day. No more kittens! Catch, spay, release is THE SOLUTION.

I had a neighbor like you that had a feral "pet". That damn cat was always digging up my flower beds, crapping on my porch and stairs,, and sunning on my window sills. I caught that bastard and took it for a one way ride. I let it out in a large apartment complex 40 miles from my house so some other stupid woman could take it in. Don't tell me how inhumane that was. The same neighbor used to leave her 17 year old cocker spaniel out in zero weather for hours hoping it would die. Some people should not have pets. 4 of my 5 dobes have be rescue animals.

Or at least try harder on the second attempt.

I hate to break this to you, but "they" are always going to be "practicing." The science of medicine will never be perfect. Nothing in this world is ever perfect--and we all "practice" our field of expertise. With that, I hope you never need an organ from another kind soul.

Then we can dump the millions of abandoned animals on your doorstep?

There has to be a better answer than just gassing them. I would rather feed them and let them take their chances in the neighborhood than ever take them to the humane society. And yes, I will have that mama cat fixed as soon as I can confine her. Still not going to send her to a sure death sentence.

Let them take their chances in the neighborhood? That is somehow humane? I have seen the stray cats in my neighborhood. Mange, deep wounds, missing eyes and all around poor health, spreading it from one cat to the next.

How can that be seen as a better life for them?

Besides, all feeding them will do, is make more and more come to your doorstep. Sooner or later, one of your own pets, if you have one, will catch whatever one of the strays has.

It is truly sad, but we can't just feed them, pat them on the head and send them on their way.

I know, everything you are saying is true. I have two dogs, one left on my doorstep, one I adopted from the humane society, both are inside, fixed and a part of the family. The cats are strays, and I have enough room to let them stay outside, but close to the house. If I did not have the dogs, they probably would be inside. They are definitely going to be fixed, I am still going to feed them and hope for the best. So far they are running any other cats off, so maybe this will work out okay. I know I can't take in every animal out there, I have watched enough hoarder episodes on tv.

I have a neighbor who is a crazy cat lady and feeds feral cats, but doesn't capture them and get them fixed. They live and die awful lives. I know this because I'm constantly cleaning their carcasses out from under my house. They abandon their kittens, so the kittens starve to death. They get hit and maimed by traffic. They get attacked and killed by dogs. They get in fights with one another and their wounds become infected. They crawl up into the engine compartments of cars for warmth and get mutilated when someone goes to start that car up. They freeze to death in the winter. They drink anti-freeze from under vehicles with leaky radiators. They die of many diseases that are easily vaccinated against. And on and on and on.

They are not better off fending for themselves in the wild. They are domesticated creatures.

That is so true. I bet there is always a dead cat along the road at all times. Its still an awful situation when you see them hungry and looking for food. I think I am just signing off this post and forgetting about it.

"The Evil Tessmacher"? AKA Hitler?

Ask your local no-kill shelter what they do when they run out of room and you'll be surprised. They start refusing animals.

You'd have to adopt a lot more than 2 cats to make a dent in the population of unwanted pets.

"Why didn't they keep her for longer than that to find a new owner to love her? There are a lot of animals like her who need someone to love them"

Your second sentence answers the first. =/

i agree, however, many of the local shelters, especially smaller ones are so over run with animals coming in on a daily basis that they just don't have the space to keep them any longer than 30 days. i think it's barbaric to gas these animals, what are we, in the 1940's? there are injections that put the animal to sleep and painlessly let it pass. i think that shelter needs to re assess what humane and inhumane is.....

Perhaps injections or other means of euthanasia cost more than gassing them does. Perhaps the difference in cost means the difference in keeping a cat for only 3 weeks instead of 4. I don't know and of this for certain, but usually there are reasons for the way an organization like this conducts itself, and being "cruel" for the hell of it isn't one of them.

I adopted a cat who had been at the humane society for over a month- He was 7 yrs old and needed to eat a certain food for health reasons. Older cats take longer to get adopted than kittens. I've had him for 8 years and am glad that the organization I got him from can keep animals more than 30 days

This isn't just about breeders. This is also about the sweet old lady down the street that feeds a couple stray cats. Fast forward to three years later and 20 cats are now mating and dying in her yard.

You are talking about me now, what am I supposed to do, let them starve? It's not going to get beyond the 2 cats that are roaming around, I hope. But it is hard to get a feral cat to the vet. I guess I am going to have to get some welding gloves and mask and get it done, though.

The point was 'moderation'. Let's spay and neuter within reason and let's adopt from shelters, not breeders (the irresponsible ones). It isn't just about breeders, true, but they're part of the problem. Many of the commenters here made good points; I chose to add this particular perspective.

Yes you are Shelia. The sooner you catch these two, the better it will be. It will get beyond the two cats. Their main drive is to eat and reproduce.

Your heart is in the right place, but the cats aren't thinking about that. They are looking for a steady supply of food and a place to have kittens.

There are humane traps you can place.

I know, believe me. Everyday when I go to work I have to check under my hood, honk the horn a couple of times and hope for the best. And to think I used to laugh at the local cat lady. I know, you feed them you own them. The thing is, I am a dog person. But I do have to step up to the plate and get these two fixed, whatever sex they are. I'm just hoping they are at least the same sex. But if I ever did go out and actually bring a cat home for my own, this would have been done first thing.

They make live traps for about $35. Bait it with a can of cat food or tuna. You'll catch em. My brother lives in the country, you wouldn't believe the cats & dogs (especially bulldogs) people dump. The dogs usually die or get ran over. The cats know how to hunt & they usually survive & take up at his house. There's probably 15-20 there now.

Inagreement one female mama cat having just 10 female kittens a year will produce a line of 1 million cats in 8 years, so I think even with aggressive spaying and neutering there will still be more than enough cats to go around.

Sheila try to find a catch and release program in your area they will probably provide you with the traps and training you'd need

Not only do feral cats produce so many kittens, many end up spreading feline leukemia