Local rescue agencies full of felines
Posted Nov 5, 2021 11:22 am.
There’s never been a better time to adopt a cat or kitten in Alberta.
Local rescue groups say they are dealing with an influx of cats that need to be adopted.
The Animal Rescue Foundation of Alberta (ARF) says it has more than 300 cats in its care right now and cannot take in any more until some are adopted out.
URGENT: We have over 300 cats in our care ????????
We are currently at capacity, meaning that we are unable to rescue any more cats until our available kittens are adopted. If you’ve been looking to add a cat to your family, NOW is the time ????❤️
ADOPT: https://t.co/yQEOhtbP2X pic.twitter.com/Nq2hZvVO1d
— ARF (@ARFAlberta) November 4, 2021
Rachael Fisneth, ARF’s cat program coordinator, says this year has been a lot busier and more difficult compared to others.
“We have been inundated with lots and lots of calls for assistance to bring cats into our program. I get minimum requests for 20 to 30 cats every day or two to come into our program” she said.
Finseth says there’s no single reason for the uptick in cats coming into their care.
“Definitely overpopulation would be the biggest contributing factor. So, you know, cats not being spayed or neutered. Our focus is rural Alberta so a lot of these cats are colony cats that are living currently outdoors and may or may not have a caregiver so when we come in we bring large groups of cats into our care, many of which have never had and medical attention. None of them are spayed or neutered and it doesn’t take very long for a couple of cats to become a lot of cats.”
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She says most of the cats they take in would make great pets but they also have a barn program for cats that would prefer to be working cats.
Cats that come into ARF’s care are first spayed or neutered, then vaccinated and dewormed, and they also get any medical attention they might need before going out for adoption.
The abundance of adoptable cats is not a problem that’s exclusive to ARF. Alberta’s Animal Rescue Crew Society (AARCS) says they too are near capacity with adoptable cats and dogs.
In an email to CityNews, AARCS says it is having to say “no” due to capacity, though it notes that adoptions seem to be steady.
