Increasing temperatures across country major factor as cat populations rise

at alarming rates

    KANSAS CITY, Mo., June 6 /PRNewswire/ -- These days cats outnumber dogs
 by 13.5 million and that number is growing. Today more than ever, animal
 shelters across the United States are reporting sky-rocketing influxes of
 cats and kittens being brought into their agencies. Many believe global
 warming is extending cat breeding seasons and causing the cat population to
 swell.
     According to Kathy Warnick, president of Pets Across America -- the
 largest umbrella organization for animal shelters serving more than 130
 million people, global warming is thought to be a contributing factor to
 the dramatic increase of stray, owned, and feral cats.
     "Cats are typically warm-weather, spring-time breeders," reminds
 Warnick, who also serves as president of the Humane Society of Missouri.
 "However, states that typically experience primarily longer and colder
 winters are now seeing shorter, warmer winters, leading to year-round
 breeding. Basically, there is no longer a reproduction lull with cat
 breeding cycles and unfortunately, it seems more people are bringing boxes
 of kittens into our agencies during winter now."
     Across the nation, shelters are reporting spikes in their cat and
 kitten intakes. Several Pets Across America shelters experienced an
 increase of more than 30 percent from 2005 to 2006. The organization
 associates their steady increase of cat intake -- a startling 7 percent
 last year alone -- to likely be an example of how warmer climates really do
 affect the number of cats breeding more frequently.
     "We have long discussed the benefits of spaying and neutering cats. It
 is likely that global warming is probably not going to be slowing any time
 soon, therefore, it benefits everyone when pet owners take action and spay
 and neuter their pet," says Bob Rohde, vice-president of Pets Across
 America and president of the Dumb Friends League in Denver, Colo.
     "Some pet owners have expressed concern about the costs of spaying and
 neutering their pet. In fact, several had indefinitely postponed the
 process all together," says Warnick. "Pets Across America encourages
 responsible pet ownership practices, with the most important being getting
 your pets spayed or neutered. Pets Across America member shelters have
 tried to make this process easier and more cost efficient in hopes that
 current and future pet owners will utilize available spay-neuter services
 in their communities."
     An exceptional variety of cats and kittens are available for adoption
 immediately. If you're thinking about adopting a pet, visit a Pets Across
 America shelter today.
     For more information about pet adoption, spaying and neutering, and
 shelters near you, visit http://www.petsacrossamerica.org.
     Pets Across America is the only umbrella organization raising funds for
 local humane shelters with its members comprising the country's oldest and
 largest animal welfare organizations. The mission of Pets Across America is
 to care for tens of millions of lost, abandoned, and surrendered animals in
 need. The 501(c)3 organization's animal shelters continuously provide
 educational support programs, as well as numerous opportunities for animal
 lovers seeking to adopt a pet. For more information, please visit
 http://www.petsacrossamerica.org.
 
 

SOURCE Pets Across America