Cats Count In Canada

Humane Canada has just released its annual Canadian animal shelter statistics report, which measures outcomes at Canada’s humane societies and SPCAs and provides a national picture of shelter animal welfare.

We’re pleased to report that, in 2017, we saw more of the shelter cat population adopted and fewer shelter cats euthanized than ever before.

For six years now, we’ve been seeing a steady improvement in outcomes for cats, and we are thrilled that more cats than ever are finding homes across Canada. Thanks to the committed, ongoing work of humane societies and SPCAs, we’re seeing public attitudes shift, spay/neuter rates go up and more cats with permanent ID, like tattoos and microchips – which help pets to find their way home if they ever get lost or separated from their owner.

TOP FIVE FINDINGS:

• The proportion of shelter cats being adopted in Canada continues to increase, and is currently at the highest rate ever seen.
• There has been a corresponding decline in shelter cats being euthanized.
• The number of animals taken in to humane society and SPCA shelters is trending downward, and the average amount of space being used at these shelters is almost half of what it was in 2015 – meaning that overcrowding is on the decline.
• Similar to recent years, more than twice as many cats entered shelters as dogs in 2017.
• Only 12% of stray cats were reclaimed by their families in 2017, compared to 72% of stray dogs.

“Canadians love cats – they are still this country’s most popular pet,” says Dr. Toolika Rastogi, Policy and Research Manager for Humane Canada and the author of this report. “But, despite the affection we feel for them, historically cats have received much less care and concern than dogs. If we are to going to reverse this legacy of negative outcomes for cats, we must take their needs as seriously as dogs.”

Links:

• 2017 Animal Shelter Statistics