The BC SPCA has released a 5 year action plan to combat the cat overpopulation in this province. Kelowna SPCA branch manager says the number of cats in BC has reached critical levels.
“There thousands and thousands of cats that are being born and reproducing and problem is just escalating” says Pugh.
In Kelowna, the shelter is constantly at its cat capacity and the list of cats waiting to enter the facility usually sit at around 200.
The BC SPCA is hoping to tackle the problem with a variety of initiatives. Sterilization programs top the list.
“We do offer a grant program If you are in low income household reach out to us let us know let us help you and we will help sterilize your animal”, says Pugh.
Pet Identification programs are also being launched.
“91 percent of dogs that come into shelter as a stray get redeemed back to their own with cats it is totally different. It runs about 8 percent of cats that come in as a stray gets redeemed, the rest go unclaimed” says Pugh.
There are some local initiatives specific to the Okanagan that the SPCA also hopes to implement.
“We have a lot of rural areas there are lots of cats and kittens reproducing there I am starting to work with my team to look at ways that we can develop more of a trap neuter release program” says Pugh.
Pugh is also hoping to start a barn database for cats that aren’t quite fit to live in a domestic household. It would involve barn owners taking in spayed and neutered cats and allowing them to live in those barns.
The BC SPCA says there are tens of thousands of cats currently homeless in this province.
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