By: Bridget Speiser, CatNiPP Director
O.K. So the weather outside is not frightful . . . yet. But the cold and snow are coming. And at a time of year when our thoughts turn to family and home and hearth, it is important for us to be mindful of the thousands of cats that are not able to cuddle with us indoors.
Thousands of cats in the Greater DC area make their homes in the shadows of our streets and alleys. These cats are there because some person either thoughtlessly abandoned them or because intact cats were allowed to roam -- creating litters of kittens that grow into street savvy cats. Some of these cats are what we call 'feral': meaning they are wholly unsocialized to humans and wary of any human interaction -- which means they are not good adoption candidates. Many of the cats on the streets are simply strays. Some still friendly and eager to interact and others more cautious; perhaps due to some memory of human mistreatment that they may have endured.
WHS is as committed to helping these homeless cats as we are to providing aid to any adoptable or homed animal. Our CatNiPP program not only provides necessary spay/neuter/vaccination resources to the outdoor cats but also works to teach communities about compassion and the responsibility of pet ownership. The friendly strays are often routed from the street through our foster and adoption program to find loving homes. The feral cats that become part of CatNiPP are lovingly cared for by neighborhood caregivers who monitor them regularly, provide nutritious food and shelter and have often cared for them for years. These cats may be homeless, but they are loved, valued and cared for.
During this holiday season let's all hold our pets a little closer and take some time to remember the animals that must make their way in the world without the comforts of an indoor life. Together we can work to curb the pet overpopulation crisis and to stop the abandonment of animals. Every cat deserves an indoor home, but until that day comes, WHS will be here to support the often overlooked cats in our communities and the people who love them.
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