Dozens of other animal welfare organizations in the greater Rochester area strongly believe that the solution to today's overpopulation of cats is SPAY & NEUTER. The current numbers speak for the themselves: On average nationally we have 3,500 kitten born every hour, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week. Common sense says there just are NOT that many new, loving homes for each of these kittens. Again, on average nationally, just about every 3 seconds, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year, a kitten or cat is euthanized solely because there are just too many cats and not enough good homes. So please, do your part. Spay and neuter your pets. Spay and neuter the strays and ferals in your neighborhood. Spay and neuter your barn cats. Help to spread the word, spaying and neutering WORKS!

If left alone to reproduce, 1 male and 1 female cat can have up to 4 litters of kittens in only one year. Many of those kittens will starve to death, freeze to death, be taken by coyotes or be killed in the road. Those that do survive will be making more kittens when they reach just 6 months old, producing hundreds of unwanted cats in just a few short years. You can help make a difference just one cat at a time. First, spay (females) and neuter (males) your pets! Second, if you find a stray or feral cat hanging around do what you can to help to get them spayed/neutered. It’s good for you, it’s good for them! There are organizations offering spay/neuter assistance (see below). If each person in the community helps just a little it will all add up to a big part of controlling the cat overpopulation in our towns.

There is a difference between a 'stray' cat and a 'feral' cat. Stray cats are most likely previously owned cats that have been lost or intentionally abandoned. Feral cats are cats that have never had human contact (may be a second, third, etc. generation born in the wild). If the cat is wanting to get into the door and wanting attention and affection it is probably a stray. The ferals will hang around food or water but will normally run away from the door and avoid humans. A shy, injured or very scared stray cat may initially act like a feral. If you’re not sure, contact an animal hospital or animal shelter/organization near you and ask to speak with someone that has specific experience with feral cats. There is no one that will 'come and get' feral cats, either. Your best bet is to find an organization that can work with you to help get the cats tested, vaccinated, spayed/neutered and then return them to their original area for safe care.

SPREAD THE WORD! And have YOUR cats -- feral, stray or pets -- spayed and neutered. It all begins with you, one cat at a time. And you are not alone. You'll find several organizations in our area that can help with spaying and neutering of ferals, strays and pets. Please check the web links below:

Please contact directly the organizations listed for specifics on their spay/neuter programs and to see if they have any limitations:

FERAL CATS

Humane Society of Livingston County The Humane Society of Livingston County - Offering spay/neuter vouchers for pet, stray and feral cats for residents of Livingston County. Vouchers redeemable at most Livingston County veterinarians.

Lollypop Farm - FERALS The Humane Society of Monroe County -- Offering low-cost spays/neuters for stray and feral cats.

Habitat for Cats, Inc. Habitiat for Cats - Offering a low-cost spay/neuter clinic for feral and stray cats (no pets) for residents of any county in the greater Rochester area.

Happy Tails Animal Shelter Humane Society of Ontario County - Offering spay/neuter vouchers pet, stray and feral cats for low income residents of Ontario County. Vouchers redeemable at most Ontario County veterinarians.



STRAY CATS

Humane Society of Livingston County The Humane Society of Livingston County - Offering spay/neuter vouchers for pet, stray and feral cats for residents of Livingston County. Vouchers redeemable at most Livingston County veterinarians.

Rochester Animal Services Rochester Animal Services - Offering low-cost spays/neuters for pet or stray cats for low income residents in city of Rochester and also low income residents from ANY county in the greater Rochester area.

Lollypop Farm - STRAYS The Humane Society of Monroe County -- Offering low-cost spays/neuters for stray and feral cats.

Habitat for Cats, Inc. Habitiat for Cats - Offering a low-cost spay/neuter clinic for feral and stray cats (no pets) for residents of any county in the greater Rochester area.

Happy Tails Animal Shelter Humane Society of Ontario County - Offering spay/neuter vouchers pet, stray and feral cats for low income residents of Ontario County. Vouchers redeemable at most Ontario County veterinarians.

Humane Society of Wayne County - Humane Society of Wayne County -- Incentive Fund (SNIF), in cooperation with Wayne County area veterinarians, to assist families who cannot afford the full cost of spaying or neutering their stray or pet cats.


PET CATS

Humane Society of Livingston County The Humane Society of Livingston County - Offering spay/neuter vouchers for pet, stray and feral cats for residents of Livingston County. Vouchers redeemable at most Livingston County veterinarians.

Rochester Animal Services Rochester Animal Services - Offering low-cost spays/neuters for pet or stray cats for low income residents in city of Rochester and also low income residents from ANY county in the greater Rochester area.

Lollypop Farm - PETS The Humane Society of Monroe County -- Offering low-cost spays/neuters for pet cats of low income Monroe County residents.

Happy Tails Animal Shelter Humane Society of Ontario County - Offering spay/neuter vouchers pet, stray and feral cats for low income residents of Ontario County. Vouchers redeemable at most Ontario County veterinarians.

Humane Society of Wayne County - Humane Society of Wayne County -- Incentive Fund (SNIF), in cooperation with Wayne County area veterinarians, to assist families who cannot afford the full cost of spaying or neutering their stray or pet cats.