"Kitty, kitty, kitty. Here kitty. Oh look - aren't those kittens cute! We'll
have to bring some food out so the mama will stay here with them and not get
hurt. I wish we could get closer to them - she's really found a cozy place
under there."

Does this sound familiar? How many of us have found a litter, or let a stray
in the house only to find newborns a few days later? Then what can we do?
One cat can have a litter of three to six kittens two to three times in one
year. Cats are unique in that they can get pregnant again very quickly -
sometimes within days or hours of delivering.

Say one cat had a litter of four, three times this year - that's 12 more
cats fully grown and reproducing (even with each other) next year, and if
they all live and only 4 are females - you could end up with 60 cats total
the next year - or more if unrelated females are in the area and get
pregnant! This is why all our shelters are full of cats, you see cats that
have died on the side of the road, and you may have one or more reproducing
on your property.

Want to REALLY help stop the cat overpopulation problem? Here are some
things you can do:

1. Have all your personal cats - indoor, outdoor, barn cats - spayed and/or
neutered. If you are receiving government assistance or considered low
income and need assistance with the cost of the surgery - the Michigan
Humane Society has a program to help you have your cat spayed or neutered -
cost of $35. Find an application on the web or at Sumpter Pet Care, PLLC;
19435 Sumpter Rd., Ste 3, Belleville, MI 48111.

2. If you see a stray cat, contact the Humane Society of Huron Valley,
Friends of Michigan Animal Rescue, or the Michigan Human Society
"TRAP/NEUTER/RELEASE" program.

3. If you have a stray litter under your deck or near your home, begin
feeding them at a regular time each day to get them more comfortable with
you *and follow step 2*.

Don't litter - fix your critters!!!

Vet's Corner courtesy of Dr. Yvonne Craiger, Sumpter Pet Care.

As a P.S. to Dr. Craiger's list of low-cost spay/neuter options, please also
consider The Paws Clinic  21210 Goddard Rd. , Taylor MI 48180.
313-451-8200.