safe cats brochure general

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A m e r ic a sFa v o r it e Pe t s

HEYRE PLAYFUL AND LOVING.

Aloof an d m ysterious. An d frisky an dmischievous. Theyre also becoming the

m ost frequen t occupan ts of Am ericasan im al sh elters, wh ere m illion s of th em arecared for each year.

Th eyre catsAm ericas m ost pop ular pets,

bu t also th e pets m ost likely to d ie prem atu relyfrom diseases, poison s, attacks by oth er an imals,abuse by h um an s, or speeding veh icles.

Cats are as deserving of our protectionas dogs. But m illion s of cats suffer an d d ien eedlessly because th ey are allowed to roam .

Th e vast m ajority of th ese cats aren t th evictims of cruel or thoughtless owners; infact, th eir caregivers often love th em likech ildren . In stead, cats are th e victim s of ou tm oded perception s th at cast th em asin depen den t, n atu ral explorers wh o p refer

to be left t o th eir own devices.

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T h e M y t h o fT h e Ou t d o o r C a t

HE GOOD NEWS IS THAT CATS

dont need to wander to leadfulfilling lives. The bad news is that

many cat caregivers believe the opposite.Free-roaming cats get a dangerous tradeoff:freedom to roam in exchange for the vastlyincreased likelihood of a premature, painful death.

The Humane Society of the United Statesestimates that the average lifespan of a free-roamingcat is about three years, compared to 1218 yearsfor the average indoor-only cat. Even cats in safesuburban neighborhoods can meet untimely fatesand never return home.

Safely confined cats avoid these hazards:q TRAFFIC. Collisions with cars and othervehicles are common killers. It is a myth that cats arestreetwise about cars. Cats are intelligent and alertbut, like most other animals, stand little chance againstfast-moving vehicles.q DISEASES. Rabies and other diseases that can betransmitted to humans are a serious public healthconcern. According to the American Association of Feline Practitioners, as many as 15 percent of sick cats are infected with feline leukemia or felineimmunodeficiency virus (FIV)and many cats

have both. These viruses are fatal and transmittedthrough contact with other cats.q POISONS. Poisons exist on chemically treatedlawns, in bait left out to kill rats or mice, and inauto antifreezewhich has an appealing tastethat leaks from cars.q O T H ER AN IM ALS. Other cats, dogs, and wildpredators such as coyotes, raccoons, and foxes arepotential enemies of cats and often engage in fightsthat leave cats injured or dead. Outdoor cats cansuffer torn ears, cut eyes, abscesses, and otherinjuries requiring costly veterinary treatment.

q CRUEL PEO PLE. Many shelter workers seecats who have been burned, poisoned, or otherwisetortured by disturbed children and adults.

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O t h e r D a n g e rsLu rk in g O u t d o o rs

REE-ROAMING CATS INEVITABLY

pick up fleas and ticks and then bringthese pests into the home. Fleas can cause

anemia, skin irritations, and allergies in catsand transmit diseases to humans through theirbites. Unsterilized cats allowed to roam contributeto the high number of cats who end up in our

nations animal shelters every day.Most veterinarians treat the injuries and diseases

resulting from allowing cats outdoors unsupervised.In fact, two out of three veterinarians recommendkeeping cats indoors, most often citing dangersfrom vehicles and disease. *

And fewer than five percent of found catstaken in by animal shelters are reunited withtheir owners. Thats why outfitting your catwith a collar and visible identification is animportant step to keep your cat safe.

*HSUS veterinarian study conducted in June 2001by Jacobs Jenner & Kent.

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An indoor cat remains safe and contentfree fromdanger and disease.


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T h e M y t h o f t h eIn d o o r-O n ly C a t

EEPING CATS SAFELY CONFINEDis not new to many long-term cat

lovers. But it is news to many peoplewho grew up with indoor-outdoor or

outdoor-only felines.Some cat owners believe that it is unnatural, or

even cruel, to keep cats cooped up inside all the

time. Unfortunately, this belief is self-perpetuating,especially if the pet caregiver makes no effort toprovide the cat with a stimulating indoorenvironment.

While most cats enjoy being outside where theycan hunt prey and explore their surroundings, its

a myth that going outside is a prerequisite forfeline happiness. Playing with an indoor cat easilysatisfies the animals stalking instinct and keeps thecat stimulated and healthy through exercise. Infact, the indoor cat who gets lots of attention andplaytime is often happier than the indoor-outdoor

cat who is generally ignored by human companions.Cat owners can easily create feline-friendly

homes that meet all of their cats needs. Manyinnovative and fun toys can help make the indoorlife a great but safe adventure.

And cats dont have to be deprived of the great

outdoors to stay safe. Cats can be trained toaccept a harness and leash, and cat enclosurescan allow them to experience all the pleasuresof the great outdoors without all of the risks.

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K e e p i n gC o m m u n it ie s S a fe

ATS ALLOWED TO ROAM FREELYoutside not only face potential harmbut also have an unintended impact

on our communities.Local governments spend hundreds of millions

of dollars every year controlling stray animals,from neighborhood cats defecating in sandboxes

to feral cats living in urban areas. Cats are nowa major focus of local animal care and controlagencies, which in the past concentrated mostof their efforts on dog control and rescue.

In fact, animal control agencies were establishedlong ago primarily to control the spread of rabies

among dogs in the street. Today, cats who roam,particularly after dark, are likely to come intocontact with nocturnal creatures, including raccoonsand skunks, the primary vector species of rabies inthe wild. As a result, cats are now the most commondomestic vectors of rabies, with 278 cases reported

in 1999 in the United States. Because of this,increasing numbers of cities and counties have beenbacking measures to inoculate cats against rabies.

In addition, free-roaming cats kill millions of wildanimals each year. Studies have shown that most of the animals killed are small mammals; approximately

25 percent are birds. Well-fed housecats kill wildlifebecause of their instinctto hunt prey, not becausethey need the food. Catsare not a part of naturalecosystems, and their

predation causesunnecessary sufferingand death to wildanimals. They alsocause conflicts amongneighbors, pitting

gardeners and birdlovers against catowners who allow theircharges to roam.

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K e e p Yo u r C a t S a f e

ECAUSE OF OLD PERCEPTIONSconcerning independence and

predatory stalking, people havebeen slow to recognize that cats

need and deserve the same kind of protectionas dogs. But the transition has begun. Manyshelters now require potential adopters tocommit to keeping their cats indoors andstrongly recommend that cats wear collarsand ID tags. In addition, local ordinancesaimed at encouraging cat owners toconfine their cats, as they do dogs, arebeing implemented.

Cats are healthier and happier whensafely confined.

For more information or materials, completeand return the order form in this brochure.Or write to Safe Cats, The Humane Society

of the United States, 2100 L Street, NW,Washington, DC 20037, or visitwww.safecats.org.

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Generous support for the Safe Cats campaignwas provided by The Kenneth A. Scott CharitableTrust, a KeyBank Trust, and the FrancesV. R. Seebe Charitable Trust.

D I A N E E N S I G N


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S a f e C a t s C a m p a ig n K it

If you want to be an advocate for cats,start with this kit. It includes all theSafe Cats items listed below. PM227715/$4.00 each, 649/$2.75 each, 50+/$2.40 each

A Sa f e C a t Is a H a p p y C a tThe Safe Cats campaign brochure gives the facts

about keeping cats safe and happyindoors. PM227615/60 each, 649/40 each, 50+/30 each

C a t C a r e B a s ic sA favorite of shelters for their adoption packets, thisbest-selling booklet covers cat care basicsadoption,health care, nutrition, introducing a cat to your home,and tips for keeping your cat safe yet stimulated.PM2137 15/$1.99 each, 649/$1.25 each, 50+/75 each

T h e Sa f e C a t sG u id e t o C a t L a wThis booklet describes local ordinances

and programs that protect both catsand communities. PM2139 $1.50 each

Sa f e C a t s B o o k m a rkMark your page with a Safe Cats reminder!PM2321 199/10 each, 100/$5.00, 500/$18

Sa f e Ca t s M a g n e tSpread the message that cats are saferindoors. PM2320 124/25 each,2599/20 each, 100 + /15 each

S a f e C a t s P SA sThree sheets of print-ready public service

announcements (with three on each sheet)feature messages about keeping cats safe,spaying and neutering, and responsiblecat care. PM2140 15 for set of 3 sheets

T h e U n in v it e d C a tThis brochure explains what to do about

neighboorhood cats visiting your property.PM2317 15/60 each, 649/40 each,50+ /30 each

Sa f e C a t s C a m p a ig nO rd er Form

To order, please use the form on page 8


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Item(s) Quantity Cost

Sales Tax* (if applicable)Shipping/Handling $3.00

TOTAL

P AYM ENT M ETHOD :

Check or Money Order(payable to The HSUS)

Credit Card (check one) Visa MasterCard Discover American Express

Account#

Exp. dateSignature

Name

Street address

City State Z ip

Daytime telephone*Residents of these states should add applicable sales tax: CA (7.25%),CT (6%), DC (5.75%), FL (6%), IL (6.25%), MD (5%), OH (5%).

Material will be sent to the address above. Pleaseprovide a street address as shipment cannot be

sent to P.O. boxes. Allow 46 weeks for delivery.All orders must be prepaid.Enclose payment with this order formand mail to:Safe CatsThe Humane Society of the United States2100 L Street, N WWashington, DC 20037

Sa f e C a t s C a m p a ig nO rd er Form


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Promoting theprotection ofall animals

2003 The HSUS. All rights reserved.

Printed on recycled paper.

The goal of The Humane Society of the UnitedStates Safe Cats campaign is to convince cat

caregivers that there is truly no place like homefor their cats. This campaign provides cat caregiverswith information on creating feline-friendly homes

and offers caregivers and public officialsinformation on the consequences ofand the

solutions toletting owned cats roamunsupervised outdoors.

safe cats brochure general

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