There are few experiences extra tragic than dropping a pet. No cat proprietor desires to endure the heartbreak that comes with dropping their beloved pet, however sadly, many do. Whether or not you’ve gotten skilled this grief or not, you possibly can work to forestall such losses sooner or later by recognizing Misplaced Pet Prevention Month.
Misplaced Pet Prevention Month is noticed by means of the month of July. Its objective is to lift consciousness of lacking pets and forestall the lack of extra animal companions. This marketing campaign is a helpful a part of making certain that our beloved cats don’t turn into part of a tragic statistic.
Why Was Nationwide Misplaced Pet Prevention Month Established?
If you happen to needed to guess what the busiest day of the 12 months for animal shelters was, what would you decide? It might appear unusual to suppose that there’s at some point out of the 12 months that sees a constant, huge improve in surrendered or stray animals, nevertheless it’s the reality.
In the US, July fifth is the busiest day of the 12 months for animal shelters. It’s largely as a result of the loud celebrations of the Fourth of July can startle pets, inflicting them to flee at a second’s discover.
As well as, households take extra journeys in the course of the summer season. Pets which can be taken alongside for the trip could also be careworn by their new surroundings, inflicting them to run away. The frequency of misplaced pets throughout this month caught the eye of PetHub, a corporation devoted to creating instruments that monitor down lacking pets.
In 2014, they launched the first-ever Misplaced Pet Prevention Month to unfold consciousness and forestall extra pets from getting misplaced. Misplaced Pet Prevention Month helps inform and equip cat homeowners with sources to maintain their pets secure.
The Tragic Actuality of Misplaced Cats
Annually, round 6.3 million animals are delivered to animal shelters nationwide. Out of this whole, 3.2 million of them are cats. A lot of the cats are strays, surrenders, and rescues. Because of the immense flood of incoming cats, solely 2.1 million are adopted yearly. Different worrying statistics embrace:
- Out of 810,000 shelter animals returned to their homeowners, solely 100,000 are cats.
- 530,000 cats are euthanized every year
- Twice as many animals are delivered to shelters as strays or misplaced pets in comparison with the variety of these surrendered by their homeowners
- Cats make up over half of euthanized animals in shelters every year.
The statistics are regarding to any animal lover, however particularly to cat homeowners. To forestall your loved one pet from changing into such a tragic statistic, you possibly can take motion to forestall your cat from changing into misplaced.
Easy methods to Stop Your Cat From Getting Misplaced
There are many methods to maintain your cat secure. By checking off the next steps, you possibly can relaxation simpler at night time, understanding that your cat is unlikely to turn into misplaced.
1. Hold Your Cat Indoors
There are numerous advantages to creating your cat an indoor-only cat. First, the danger of bodily risks decreases considerably since they’re unlikely to come across wild animals, territorial cats and canine, unkind people, or automobiles. As well as, indoor cats are much less prone to develop infectious ailments.
2. Put Collars and ID Tags on Your Cat
Even when your cat is indoor-only, it’s best to have some type of identification in your cat, simply in case. Cats may be sneaky escape artists after they wish to be, so don’t rule out the potential for them slipping by means of the door. Cats with collars and ID tags may be simply returned dwelling if discovered by a stranger.
Ensure that your cat’s ID tag has their title, your title, your tackle, and your phone quantity. This ensures that whoever finds your cat can contact you and convey them dwelling.
3. Microchip Your Cat
Pet homeowners must also have their cats microchipped. Microchips comprise codes that may be learn at vet places of work or shelters, telling them who the cat belongs to. Simply be sure you have your cat’s microchip up to date should you transfer!
4. Be Conscious of Your Cat in Chaotic Environments
Cats can turn into simply frazzled, particularly when their house is overrun with chaos. In case you have guests in your house, your cat could really feel threatened and bolt out the door. To forestall that, plan forward.
Hold your cat in a quiet, safe room the place guests won’t enter. Relying on the size of the go to, give your cat toys, meals, water, and a litter field to make sure all of their wants are met. It will scale back their stress and encourage them to remain proper the place they’re.
5. Guarantee Your House is Safe
If there’s a means on your cat to flee your own home, they’ll discover it. Be sure that all home windows and doorways are securely latched. Your cat shouldn’t be capable of push their means by means of.
If you happen to let your cat go exterior, guarantee they’re saved in an enclosed space with no technique of escape. This implies inspecting your fences or different obstacles to make sure that there aren’t any weak factors.
6. Use a Provider or Leash When Leaving the Dwelling
Throughout vet appointments or different occasions that trigger you to depart the house together with your cat, be ready. Use a service or leash to move your cat to and from the house.
7. Prepare Your Cat to Come When Referred to as
Cats could also be unbiased and aloof, however that doesn’t imply they can’t be educated. By coaching your cat to come back when known as, you possibly can preserve higher management if they start to wander.
8. Have a Plan for Emergencies
Pure disasters can occur at a second’s discover, so having a plan in place can hold you and your cat secure. Having animal first assist kits, feline journey provides, and microchipping your cat are nice methods to maintain them secure in an emergency.
Last Ideas
No pet proprietor desires to expertise the grief that comes with dropping a beloved cat. That’s the reason Misplaced Pet Prevention Month exists; it gives pet homeowners with the sources wanted to maintain their companions secure. When July rolls round, contemplate getting concerned with Misplaced Pet Prevention Month by posting on social media or volunteering at your native animal shelter.
Featured Picture Credit score: StockMediaSeller, Shutterstock
