Houston resident turns in 49 adult cats and 13 kittens to shelter

BARC is Houston’s Animal Shelter and Adoption Facility. They have just opened a brand new facility and low and behold at about the same time (July 31st) someone turns up with 60 cats to abandon to the shelter. Perhaps the timing was deliberate.

Clowder of rescue cats

Two useful tags. Click either to see the articles: Toxic to cats | Dangers to cats

BARC think that the number is a record. I hope they have had a record number of adopters as well because it must place a strain on a shelter to deal with such a sharp influx of cats. They appear to be getting along okay in this big cage. Not all of them are in it, I presume. Because they are getting along in very cramped conditions it indicates they were living together with a hoarder but we don’t know.

BARC said:

This might be a record. A resident just dropped off 49 adult cats and 13 kittens. If you’re looking for a new kitty, now is the time! These kitties came in as stray so they won’t be available for adoption for three more days.

BARC is celebrating Clear the Shelters August 15th with $20 Adoptions! Come support a great cause!

BARC have a good network on social media and they collaborate with Houston Pet Rescue groups. I wonder how many have been adopted over the past five days.

Jilliann Gonzalez writes:

When you drop off an animal at a shelter, if you say stray they will get a 3 day hold while they give their owner time to claim them. Then try and adopt them out. If you tell the shelter the animal is yours they can euthanize right away for space if needed. Being an owner surrender is not automatic death, but a stray sometimes has a better chance due to the 3 day hold and maybe getting a little time for exposure.

This is more than likely an owner surrender but they wanted to give the kitties at least a chance to get adopted.

Jilliann makes a good point. Did this person – we have no idea who he or she is – deliberately describe this clowder of cats and kittens as strays to prolong the time in the shelter before they are considered for euthanasia? It looks that way.

In one respect you have to admire the person for thinking rationally about caring for these cats. It is sad, though, to think their lives are in danger.

Cindy Shepard writes:

We seriously need more cat rescues in Houston. If people think the dogs have a problem, they wouldn’t believe how bad it is for the cats.

Please search using the search box at the top of the site. You are bound to find what you are looking for.

10 thoughts on “Houston resident turns in 49 adult cats and 13 kittens to shelter”

  1. I can assume that the person who dumped these cats had no alternative but to deliver them to a kill shelter. More non-kill options are needed.
    With an average of 80% euthanasia rate for cats in kill shelters, nationwide, we can estimate that 48 of the 60 cats and kittens would have been killed right after the 3 day holding period ended.

    Reply
        • Dee, I tend to agree that most of those poor cats won’t make it out of the shelter.

          Shame on the person who accumulated all those cats and abandoned them to an unknown fate. What on earth do we have to do to get the neuter/spay message across? I just don’t get the mentality of people who don’t automatically have their pets sterilised as soon as they’re old enough for the surgery. It must be arrogance or ignorance, because Lord knows there’s enough educational information available and numerous charities who offer low-cost or free neutering/spaying.

          The people who work in animal rescue do such a wonderful job, cleaning up the mess others have made. Without their dedication, the world would be a much worse place for cats and dogs.

          Reply
          • I don’t have an answer, M. I don’t get it either why people wouldn’t neuter when it can be free or, practically, free.
            I get so frustrated, because I work with a rescue group, and approach caretakers with only a $10 charge to have their cats health checked, neutered, rabies shot, and microchipped, and I’m shot down. I’m shocked, because that is an unbelievable deal. However, truthfully, should I see their cat or any other INTACT free-roaming cat (keep in mind that free-roamers are anyones’ game here), I take them in to be done at my own expense. It’s surprising how many people don’t even know that their cats have been neutered. I really don’t care too much how “borderline” it is to neuter someone else’s cat. To me, if they have a free-roaming and intact cat, they’re coming with me.

            Reply
            • D. I know what you mean about the free-roaming intact toms. Myself and friends have done this several times with neighbourhood cats and like you say, the owners never even notice.

              $10 for that health package… I’d have thought people would be queueing round the block to take advantage of such a generous offer. Like I said, I just don’t get their mentality. Do they not understand that pets need health care too, or are they simply too mean to spend any money on ‘just’ a cat?

              I hate to be judgmental, but I’ve reached the conclusion that some people simply aren’t fit to care for pets or children, no matter how much help and support is on hand.

              Reply
              • It’s a sad state, but people are absolutely clueless as well as careless when it comes to taking responsibility for their pets. They know that when the cats and dogs begin to multiply and the problem gets out of hand, they can just turn the animals over to someone else to deal with. They seem to have no concept that this lack of responsibility ensures an almost certain death for the majority of turned over pets. As long as pets are treated as property and spay-neuter ordinances are lax or non-existent, the overpopulation problem will only continue.

                Reply
  2. At least whoever this was didn’t just open up the door and kick the cats out. I hope they all get forever homes.

    Reply
    • I agree, Serbella. It took a bit of guts to bring them all to the shelter. And at least they have a chance of a life.

      Reply

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