Animal organizations launch cat website to educate public – Chico Enterprise-Record

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CHICO — They’re furry, they’re four-legged, and they need your help.
Advocates of five different animal organizations in the Chico area gathered for a news conference on the sidewalk near the iconic Our Hands sculpture Tuesday to announce a new website recently launched called www.chicoresourcesforcats.org. The website, produced by the animal organizations, is a one-stop-shop resource for all cat-related information and gives people a chance to learn and get the answers they need without having to make several calls.
“Thanks to the national shortage of veterinary resources, an increase in owner-surrendered animals to shelters, as well as the ever-tightening pinch of the economy, cats and kitten resources are overwhelmed,” says Tracy Mohr, Animal Services Manager for the City of Chico Animal Shelter. “Most animal shelters throughout Butte County are at capacity, foster families are full, and spay and neuter appointments are booked up for months. It’s a tough time to say the least.”
Shelly Rogers, spokesperson for Neighborhood Cat Advocates, said people are not aware of the cat and kitten situation.
“Cats are in dire straits,” said Rogers. “The public is not aware of the cat situation. Shelters are filled to the brim and there is a national veterinary shortage. It’s difficult to get vet care.”
Every spring in Chico kitten season brings an overabundance of kittens. Rogers said female cats go into heat around February or March and can produce up to three litters per cat.
The representatives for each organization implore people to get their cats spayed or neutered.
“The summer of 2022 has been the most difficult,” said Rogers. “The vet shortage is a huge problem.”
Rogers said finding pet food is an issue too.
Each organization has different functions, such as trapping, spaying and neutering, which is what Neighborhood Cat Advocates performs. Each individual organization has volunteers. The number one problem is the lack of spay and neuter appointments, according to the spokespeople. Vets are overloaded and there aren’t enough resources.
Roger said cats don’t garner as much attention as dogs.
“Cats don’t have the same place in people’s hearts that dogs do,” said Rogers. “We want to rally the community around cats. This is why we’re here today.“
In an attempt to provide a central location for community members to get information and support, chicoresourcesforcats.org includes the list of local animal welfare agencies involved, the role each plays in the community, as well as the services and programs they provide. The group believes that while understanding the problem is half the battle, it will take the community working together to help solve the issue, according to a press release.
“Our local agencies are full to the brim, overwhelmed, and we are all doing our best to keep up with the needs of the community,” says Katrina Woodcox, Executive Director of Butte Humane Society. “This website is a fantastic ‘one-stop-shop’ resource for all things cats and kittens.”
Rogers said there are several ways people can help with the cat crisis.
“Foster homes for kittens, donations for spay and neutering, and food and supplies are always needed,” said Rogers. “But what our group really needs is the community to know that agencies are working as hard as they can, but this problem is one that will need community involvement, understanding, and a realization that will take more than the animal welfare organizations to help tame kitten season. It will take all of us.”
For more information, visit www.chicoresourcesforcats.org. Volunteers are needed to clean shelters and help with adoptions, for example.
 
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