😺 The number of cats euthanized in American shelters has decreased by 75 percent in ten years

😺 The number of cats euthanized in American shelters has decreased by 75 percent in ten years

Ten years ago, the chance of a cat surviving a shelter was roughly fifty-fifty. Today, cats are being saved at record levels. The number of cat adoptions has increased by 20 percent over the past decade, and Generation Z has had the biggest impact on the increase.

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  • Ten years ago, the chance of a cat surviving a shelter was roughly fifty-fifty. Today, cats are being saved at record levels.
  • The number of cat adoptions has increased by 20 percent over the past decade, and Generation Z has had the biggest impact on the increase.
  • Community cat programs, where cats are neutered, vaccinated, and returned to their area, have increased by 70 percent.

Kitten programs have been critical

Over the past decade, the number of cats euthanized in shelters in the United States has decreased by 75 percent. The change is the result of systematic work where local communities have partnered with shelters to implement modern programs that save more cats' lives.

Kittens make up more than 50 percent of all cats taken into shelters. Foster-based programs, where volunteers care for kittens during their most vulnerable period, have been a central factor behind the reduction. The programs help kittens survive the first critical weeks and then find permanent homes.

Community cats get to stay in their areas

One of the biggest drivers behind the reduction in shelter deaths is community cat programs. In these programs, healthy cats are trapped, neutered or spayed, vaccinated, and then returned to the area where they live. Over the past ten years, the number of cats returned to their outdoor environments has increased by 70 percent. The programs have broad support. According to a study, an average of 30 percent of the population feeds community cats in their neighborhoods.

More adoptions, especially among young people

Cat adoptions have increased by 20 percent over the past decade. Generation Z, the youngest adult generation, has had the biggest impact on the increase compared to all other generations. Shelters have made the adoption process more open and welcoming, making it easier for people to bring home a cat. This has particularly benefited first-time pet owners.

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