next time you see a stray cat on the street to ignore it - it probably has a home

[Liberal_in_LA]

SPOKANE, Wash. – A new promotional campaign is urging people not to pick up stray cats.

SCRAPS is telling people that the next time you see a stray cat on the street to ignore it.

SCRAPS leader said the harsh words have less to do with cruelty and more to do with responsibility.

Whenever the weather gets cold, people are inclined to pick up cats off the streets and bring them to SCRAPS. The only problem is that most of the time the cats were not homeless and were on the streets by choice.

Studies by SCRAPS indicate 59 percent of cats on the street know their way home. In addition, another 30 percent of homeless cats are found by their owners on the streets. As a result, when people do bring a cat to SCRAPS, it makes the overcrowding problem, worse.

Officials said once cats go missing, only three percent are claimed by their owners.

http://www.krem.com/story/news/local/spokane-county/2014/11/05/scraps-urging-people-not-to-take-stray-cats-to-them/18517711/

[Nika]

1. Another reason I am glad my cat is now indoor living only.

I did that after I moved closer to the center of town and closer to a bust arterial road.

[Demit]

2. They should start a campaign telling cat owners to stop letting their cats out

to roam the streets. If they're your pets, they're not everybody else's responsibility, they're yours.

[kcr]

4. Some people think it's cruel to keep them indoors

I don't get it. I've always kept my cats indoors. Growing up my parents let ours outside and I remember the pain of missing and wounded pets. My cats are no less happy and live longer and healthier lives.

[Politicalboi]

3. Cats need the outdoors

The sun, the air, the trees, the dirt, the yummy bugs and grass. I have 4 outdoor cats that now have to be inside. We are ALL miserable. I find it cruel to keep them indoors. I know I can't possibly clean up after my cats when they're outside, but doggie piss isn't cleaned up either. My cats at least are able to catch and kill gophers. Dogs bark. I would never have an indoor cat. So I either have to move, or give them away to people who will allow them outside hopefully.

[Beringia]

6. I had a cat like that too

He would go out as soon as the sun went down. I always said to him "nighttime, advantage cat". He had many good years outside. Then I had to bring him to an apartment with no outdoor access. He was so unhappy those last few years. He eventually died. Juno, June-bug, AKA cookie monster.

[tammywammy]

7. Cats don't need the outdoors

I have three indoor cats that are absolutely not miserable. Two will go a few feet on the deck if I leave the door open, but always hurry back in after a minute.

Also indoors I don't have to worry they get hit by a car, in fights, etc.

[Demit]

12. So take them for a walk.

And clean up their crap & take it home with you, so people don't find it in their gardens.

[hifiguy]

5. My two cats - both now gone to the Rainbow Bridge -

were more than happy to be indoor-only cats. Max had been abandoned and lost all of one ear and half of the other to frostbite. He'd run away from open doors. Butch liked to look outside but had a "been there, done that, now where's a nice warm place to sleep" attitude.

Cats with staff belong indoors.

[CaliforniaPeggy]

8. For those of you who are discussing whether cats are indoor or outdoor animals:

Perhaps it's possible that cats are like people in that they vary as to what they prefer?

I think it would be best to do what your cat wants while trying to keep him/her as safe as is practical.

[kiva]

11. I think this is true.

I had a neutered male who always wanted to be outdoors; I had a big - 12x20 patio that was screened but not what he wanted. The last year of his life I moved into a home with a courtyard where he could go outside and he was so much happier. My girl cat? She was perfectly happy inside; now she'll go out a very short distance from the door (in courtyard), but she will also go for days without going out.

Just different temperaments, I think.

[AgingAmerican]

9. About ten years ago, my neighbor...

...went to a yard sale a couple blocks from our street. The folks running the sale had my cat Turtle, and they were trying to give her away to folks. My neighbor told them, "that is my next door neighbors cat you are trying to give away". They told her they thought Turtle was homeless, because every day she would come by for food.

You feed a cat and it will come back, that is their instinct.

Funny part is turtle would turn into a blinding ball of buzz sawing claws whenever we tried to get her into a car. Had someone actually tried to take her home, they would have gotten a nasty surprise.

Turtle died of old age last year. RIP Turtle sweetheart

[wheniwasincongress]

10. People need to keep their cats strictly indoor

they get hit by cars, taken by sweet kids and mean, tortuous people, get in fights with other cats and dogs, get infections, get pregnant or impregnate, taken to the shelter...They also live longer as indoor cats. Plus they disturb people's gardens and bird feeders.

Cats do not need the stimulation that dogs require.

Put a leash on a cat and attach it to the house, etc., if you're putting them outside. And make sure they can't hang themselves with the leash by trying to jump a fence or porch rail.