This week on All My Children Wear Fur Coats, Jill Steinberg discussed the importance of feline population control, and explained how The Cat Network is working to humanely reduce cat overpopulation.
Jill Steinberg holds the positions of secretary, treasurer, and board member at The Cat Network. Founded in 1995, The Cat Network is a nonprofit organization that educates the public on the necessity of spay/neuter and provides low-cost spay/neuter services for homeless, stray, and abandoned cats. Additionally, The Cat Network acts as an adoption referral service, facilitating adoptions by finding homes for fostered cats.
Jill emphasized how rapidly a cat population can spiral out of control. A single unsterilized cat and its offspring can produce thousands of kittens in a short timeframe. The issue is especially pressing in Miami-Dade County, where nearly half a million community cats reside. According to Jill, the weather in South Florida contributes to the severity of the problem, because cats propagate more frequently in hot climates.
One way that The Cat Network combats cat overpopulation in South Florida is by promoting the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) approach to community cats. Jill explained that attitudes towards TNR have significantly improved over the past couple of decades, resulting in a growing demand for TNR services that now exceeds The Cat Network’s capacity. She highlighted the importance of returning cats to the exact location where they are found, as cats do not easily adapt to new environments.
When asked about personality changes resulting from spaying or neutering, Jill noted that the primary change she has observed is a decrease in aggressive behavior. Some individuals are apprehensive about sterilizing their cat, fearing it will drastically alter their temperament. However, Jill reassured our listeners that a spayed or neutered cat is likely to enjoy a more peaceful life post-surgery. They are less likely to engage in fighting with other cats, thus reducing the possibility of developing an infection or disease.
Since its creation, The Cat Network has helped sterilize over 110,000 cats and kittens. You can contribute to the cause by participating in TNR and sterilizing your cats, even ones you haven’t formally adopted. As Jill put it, “Feeding a stray? Neuter or spay!”
If you would like to learn more about The Cat Network, visit TheCatNetwork.org or Facebook.com/TheCatNetwork
Please protect your pet with a Pet Trust! Visit ACT4Pets.org for more information.
