Help meowt! Huntsville Animal Services to celebrate International Rescue Cat Day
Published on February 25, 2022
Huntsville residents in need of a whiskered, purring companion are urged to bring home a cat or kitten from Huntsville Animal Services (HAS) in honor of International Rescue Cat Day.
Observed annually on March 2, International Rescue Cat Day is designed to raise awareness about homeless cats and kittens and encourage adoptions. HAS Director Dr. Karen Sheppard said it’s also a great way to encourage people to spay and neuter their feline friends.
Sheppard said there’s a lull in the number of cats and kittens at the shelter now, but “kitten season” runs from late spring to early fall. That’s when many shelters in the U.S. become inundated with cats and kittens.
CLICK HERE TO SEE AVAILABLE CATS AND KITTENS
HAS, which took in more than 2,300 cats and kittens in 2021, reports over 2,200 (96%) were adopted, transferred to rescue groups or reclaimed by owners. The shelter’s save rate for all animals was 95.6%, which exceeds the national average by 10 points.
“We’re fortunate to have so few cats, but we know that will change in the months ahead,” Sheppard said. “That’s why it’s so important for people to spay and neuter kittens to keep the population down.”
Cat facts
Female cats can deliver up to eight kittens in a litter and have two to three litters a year. One unspayed female cat can birth nearly 200 kittens in her lifetime.
Kittens can be spayed or neutered as young as 6-8 weeks old, or as recommended by a veterinarian.
Those unsure about adopting a cat or kitten should consider benefits that don’t include companionship. A previous study by the Journal of Vascular and Interventional Neurology found cat owners had a decreased risk for death due to heart attack, stroke and cardiovascular diseases.
“Cats also provide great indoor and outdoor pest control, though they may bring the pests to you as a present,” Sheppard said.
Take action
Adoptable adult cats are $35, while kittens are $50. Each adoptable pet is vaccinated, spayed/neutered, microchipped and comes with a City license and free bag of pet food. Click here to see photos, ages and descriptions of available animals.
Located at 4950 Triana Blvd. in Huntsville, the shelter is open Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.; Tuesday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m.; and Saturday, 9 a.m. to 3 p.m.
Call 256-883-3782, visit HuntsvilleAL.gov/Animal or check us out on Facebook.
