The

CATS IN KENNELS

Program

Welcome to our website

www.cink.ca  

catsinkennels@cink.ca 

Keeping your cat indoors, or in a safe, enclosed kennel when outside

is the only humane and environmentally sound way

to be a responsible owner

of your cat.

The information is all on one
web-page. Just scroll down.

If you love your cat, keep him in a safe,

enclosed outdoor kennel

when he’s outside.

Protect our birds and other small wildlife.

Photos of Cat Kennels are available in styles like "Kitty Heaven”,
"Condo", "Rural Chic", "Penthouse", "Penthouse Suite" and "Bungalow".  

    If you would like to receive some colour photos
of sample cat kennels that you can build or have
someone else build for you, please email us.

(Search below for By-laws or TNVE in place of TNR or Reference Articles and so on)

What is the CATS IN KENNELS Program?

The CATS IN KENNELS Program is an environmental
Canadian “word of mouth” campaign designed to educate
people about the environmental impact of loose domestic
cats upon bird and other small wildlife populations.
We promote responsible pet cat ownership, and aim
to protect cats from being put at risk by their owners.

     The CATS IN KENNELS Program promotes safety
and quality of life for both domestic cats and wildlife.

     We aim to protect wildlife species' populations and diversity.

     Wild animals, including our migratory birds, are
at increasing risk due to the activities of human beings.
The oil spill in the Gulf of Mexico in 2010
has killed and will kill many more animals,
and will have negative environmental impacts
for decades.

     The impact of domestic cats upon bird and other animal
 populations will increase as their numbers decline due to
environmental factors.

     Controlling our pet cats and the feral populations
we create is something we can do now that will have
beneficial consequences for wildlife and
the environment now and in future.

     The philosophy of the CATS IN KENNELS Program is
to keep your cat indoors or in a safe, enclosed outdoor kennel
to protect birds and other small wildlife, as well as your pet cat.
It is the only environmentally responsible way
to manage domestic cats. It protects cats and wildlife.

We encourage you to copy this information, distribute it
and promote it freely for the benefit of wildlife, and
for the health and safety of your pet cat.

Why do we need

the CATS IN KENNELS PROGRAM

in Canada?

To protect wildlife.

And, to protect domestic cats.

The domestic cat population has exploded into 400 million throughout the world, as reported in 1997. In Canada, 5 million pet cats kill about 140 million birds and small animals each year.  In the City of Toronto in 1995, over 4,600 stray cats were impounded. In 2000 in Toronto, 13,091 cats were impounded,
of which 50 per cent were euthanized.

Rural cats kill more than urban cats.

Cat overpopulation and wildlife destruction is a worldwide problem.  In Britain, 5 million cats kill more than 50 million birds and wildlife, and maim another 42 million each year.  In New Zealand, cats and other introduced predators have nearly destroyed their native bird species. In Australia, the problem of cat overpopulation has become a national menace.

The U.S. has 66 million pet cats, more than double the number
from 1970, and 40 million feral (wild) cats, all of which
nationwide kill a billion small mammals and as many birds in a year.

Municipal governments in many communities across Canada
are inundated with public complaints about loose cats in
neighbourhoods. Communities can benefit greatly from
promoting the logical concept that responsibility for cats
rests squarely where it belongs - with cat owners.
It would prevent both unnecessary distress to the public,
cats and wildlife, and stop the waste of public dollars
in litigation and animal control.

Humane Societies, Veterinarians, Ornithologists, Biologists, Government employees in environmental and natural resources, and Environmental Organizations need to be proponents of the environmental importance and responsibility of keeping your cats indoors, or in a safe, enclosed kennel when they are outside. They need to educate the public that this serious issue can be easily solved, eradicating the suffering and destruction to birds and small animals, and to pet cats themselves.

Researchers in Canada often ignore this subject
for some reason, despite the fact that cats killing
wildlife is an important factor in the mortality
of birds. For instance, in a report by R. C. Banks
entitled "Human related Mortality of Birds
in the United States", Special Scientific Report,
Wildlife No. 215, US Dept. Interior (Washington
DC, 1979), et al, here is what they found.

Relative Annual Human Related Mortality of Birds
in the U.S. from various causes. Below is
the Estimated Annual Mortality listed in
millions of birds. Note that CAT PREDATION
is the FOURTH highest cause of bird deaths
of ELEVEN major causes studied.

Collisions with buildings,    100 to 1,000 million bird deaths

Collisions with power lines,         up to 174 million bird deaths

Recreational hunting,                  120 million bird deaths

CAT PREDATION,                      118 million bird deaths

Indirect Pesticide Poisoning,       72 million bird deaths

Collisions with motor vehicles,     60 to 80 million bird deaths

With communication towers,  4 - 50 million bird deaths

Nuisance Bird Control,                    2 million bird deaths

Collisions with wind generators, .01 to .04 million bird deaths

Electrocution,                           .01 to 0.1 million bird deaths

Scientific Research,                        .02 million bird deaths

It is obvious that CAT PREDATION is a significant cause of

the mortality of birds, and by relation, to the diversity of

species. This list does not cover the small mammals,

amphibians and reptiles that are also killed by loose cats.

As well, these figures are extremely low in comparison

to most other cat predation figures, yet they still are

a significant cause.

What is not obvious is why Canada's universities,

ornithologists, biologists and government agencies do

not inform the public about the importance of keeping

pet cats contained at home, and not supporting feral

cat colonies or feral cats at large. Their simple act of

informing the public can save the lives of millions

of birds.  Extrapolated from the above chart, in this

one of many international studies, the figure of

118 million bird deaths caused by cats in the USA

translates to many bird deaths caused by cats

in Canada as well.

There are many studies in the USA that have been

done on this topic, and others in process at present.

It is disheartening that in Canada, Bird Mortality

is not studied. If it was, the simple resulting observation

would be that keeping your cat at home, or in a safe

enclosed kennel when it is outside, could save millions

of birds in Canada, including endangered species.

(Cats are indiscriminate killers.) In addition, many other

small wild animal species, already under pressure due to

habitat loss, environmental change and other effects,

could be protected from this unnecessary cause of

mortality. Cats cannot differentiate between an endangered

species and a prolific species.

One would hope that Canadian institutions will study

the subject and when their studies confirm what is already

known in USA, Britain and USA, that they will

inform the public of the results. One hopes that

ornithologists and biologists in universities

and government agencies will become part of

the solution.

.........

The American Bird Conservancy works very hard

in the USA to promote responsible cat ownership.

The Cats in Kennels Program is the only similar

organization in Canada promoting this ethical,

humane, environmentally sound, much needed and

logical step in our cultural habits.

Here is a recent report from the USA on this subject.

           Free-roaming Cats Bad for Birds

8 September 2006 – American Bird Conservancy (ABC) has published a new report that says free-roaming cats are bad for birds. The report, Impacts of Feral and Free-ranging Cats on Bird Species of Conservation Concern: A Five-State Review of New York, New  Jersey, Florida, California, and Hawaii, analyzes for the first time the effects cats are having on some of America’s most at-risk bird species at cat predation hotspots. The five-state review cites troubling threats to endangered species such as the Florida Scrub-jay, Piping Plover, and Hawaiian Petrel, and other key birds such as the Painted Bunting, Least Tern, and Black Rail.  The report highlights the growing trend of so-called “managed” feral cat colonies that use Trap/Neuter/Release techniques and their effects on birds, particularly at state and Globally Important Bird Areas.

   The evidence is clear, the report shows – free-roaming cats are bad for birds.

   The report says state and federal resources for controlling feral cats must be significantly increased to achieve the goals identified in Endangered Species Recovery Plans and State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategies.  The report is available at www.abcbirds.org under the Cats Indoors! Campaign.

..........

The public can help the process by insisting directly to these institutions that they become proactive in education for responsible pet cat ownership, and therefore, environmental  responsibility. People who let their cats loose are not only environmentally irresponsible but are cruel to birds and other wildlife and to cats themselves, whether or not they are aware of it. It is the environmental, humane and societal responsibility of these institutions  to make them aware.

Isn’t my cat a ‘natural’ predator?

NO. Your cat is a domestic species, overpopulated and introduced into the natural environment by humans. The dead animals and birds you see your cat kill are about half of  what it actually takes.  Cats do not belong in the natural environment. Not only do they kill  animals directly, but they compete with natural predators like hawks, owls and foxes for food. They also destroy nests and kill newborn animals. With the pressure that wildlife and bird species endure from the decrease in habitat and the increase of human  populations, their unnecessary destruction by our overpopulated pet cats makes it  unconscionable for us as a society to ignore.

I live in the country and need cats to control mice.

If you live in the country and use cats for rodent control, keep just one neutered cat. Apparently neutered females tend not to roam as much. Better yet, use live mousetraps instead, where several rodents can be caught at one time. Cats who eat animals pick up parasites and contract diseases, some of which are transferrable to humans. The cost of mouse traps will be less than your veterinary bills. Some diseases can cause birth defects if they infect pregnant women (Toxoplasmosis).

Nature provides natural predators like hawks, owls and foxes for rodents, which is their main source of food, and with whom your loose cats will compete. If you are in the city, there are fewer natural predators so again, use mechanical means like traps. There are various sizes and types available.  Avoid poisons, as these can be carried by rodents into other areas, which will put all animals at risk.

I like it when our cat has baby kittens; we give them to the shelter.

Neuter your pet, whether you live in the city or on a farm.  An unspayed cat in nine years, along with her offspring, can produce 11.6 million cats (ProvinceWide, CTV, 22/Feb/99).

Humane Societies are full of cats, usually at least two cats for every dog in a shelter. Is this humane?

Unless you’re in the business of breeding, your cat does not need to contribute to the cat overpopulation problem. Cats in shelters do not lead happy lives, or long ones. In Toronto  (Ontario) alone 4,600 stray cats were impounded in 1995, and in Kitchener (Ontario), 3,000  cats were impounded in 1998.  If you love your cat, neuter it and keep it indoors or in a safe, enclosed outdoor kennel when outside.

I enjoy seeing my cat outside, having fun. People that don’t
like cats outside are just mean, or are cat-haters.
They don’t love animals as much as I do.

If you think you are showing you 'love' your cat by letting him loose outside, think again. Proponents of the Cats In Kennels Program are the true cat lovers. They protect cats, not put them at risk. But they also protect wildlife. They are not only environmentally responsible, but are the true 'animal lovers'. People who let their cats loose or who believe cats should be allowed to live loose outside are not only in denial of the environmental impact of domestic cats upon wildlife, but are living in a fantasy world. Loose cats do not live safe, long, happy lives. They die young, and are often diseased or injured at some time of their young lives when let loose. They are not cherished members of the family; they are replaceable, like lawn ornaments.

Cat breeders value their cats and for the most part wouldn't think of letting them loose. But the people who abide by the dime-a-dozen rule of domestic cat propagation let their cats loose because they don't want to be bothered with responsible pet cat ownership. They believe they can just get another kitten at the humane society if anything happens to this year's model. Is this behaviour showing a love of cats?

If you move to the country or take your cat to the cottage and think it would be a nice picture to see your cat roaming freely outside, you should review the facts and know the truth about what befalls cats who are let loose and the wildlife in those areas when you introduce your lethal pet predator. If you care about animals at all, you should care about the millions of wild birds and small animals and their offspring who are killed or maimed, or left to die, because some 'cat lover' wanted to let his or her cat out for some 'play time'.

Rural cats kill more than urban cats. The squirrels, chipmunks, moles, flying squirrels, bats, shrews, field mice, frogs, snakes, and numerous varieties of birds you and your children enjoy seeing outside that are struggling for an existence, that are part of the natural environment, will be found on your and your neighbours’ front steps, mutilated or killed, if you allow your cat to roam. This is not fair to wildlife.

Or, you may find your cat dead on the road, or injured from a vehicle, or hurt or diseased from other animals. Or your cat could be prey to an 'animal hoarder' - those persons who suffer from a specific type of obsessive-compulsive order, collecting stray animals, a fate to which cats are particularly vulnerable when they are let loose. These misguided individuals justify their action of collecting dozens - sometimes a hundred - animals by stating they 'love animals', only to subject them to horrible diseased, unsanitary conditions, and often, starvation.

Or, by letting your cat loose, you place him at risk to the most horrific crimes of animal abuse by the psychotic individuals who perpetrate them. The Criminal Code does not adequately protect cats and other animals from these crimes of cruelty. Responsible pet owners, of cats or other animals, protect their pets by keeping them safe at home.

Letting your cat loose is not fair to your cat, and is not showing you love cats. If you live in the city there are more cats per square mile than in the country, and they roam far and wide. Birds and small animals try to live in the city as well.

People who let their cats loose and have bird feeders are enticing wild animals to their death. Cats roam great distances and kill for play. Well-fed cats are healthiest and kill as much as hungry, (wild) feral cats. Loose cats often form colonies and become wild, making it more difficult to control overpopulation and disease. Build or buy a safe, enclosed outdoor kennel for your cat to play in and to enjoy the outdoors, safely.

My cat has long claws.  If I keep him inside, he’ll claw the

furniture.

Cats have claws; it is an inherent part of their physique.  Trim them every few weeks if he pulls threads in your furniture.  Provide a cat scratching post inside as well as in his kennel. If you put large branches for him to climb in his kennel,
he is more likely to use his claws there and to rest when he’s indoors.
 

Don’t bells on my cat tell wildlife she’s there?

Cats are stealthy hunters and learn to compensate while wearing bells. Bells do not help.

My cat is fed well, so he won’t hunt.

Well-fed cats make the best - the strongest and healthiest - hunters. Cats kill from instinct whether or not they are hungry, whether in the city or country, whether they are affectionate pets or not. Farm cats who are fed well in the barn do not tend to stray as much as cats who are expected to live on rodents, but they still roam and kill animals for play. Any cat that eats rodents has its own health at risk as well as that of your family. Cats let outdoors regularly defecate in gardens and children’s sandboxes.  The parasite Toxoplasma gondii, often found in cats and more so in stray and feral cats, can be passed through the faeces to humans. In pregnant women, Toxoplasmosis can cause fetal birth defects, autism and even death. Not keeping domestic cats indoors or in a safe, enclosed outdoor kennel can cause human tragedy in addition to senseless wildlife destruction that occurs round the clock.

What are other countries and cities doing about the problem?

The American Bird Conservancy in the U.S. has begun a nationwide campaign to educate the public and to initiate responsible cat ownership with their “Cats Indoors!” campaign.

Around the world, countries and cities are taking action. In 1996 the residents of Red Deer, Alberta wanted something done about roaming cats, so the city provided live traps and increased the fines to their owners.  A community in San Rafael, California banned cats in 1988 when approving a housing development near a grassland area full of wildlife.  In Canberra, Australia in 1996, Parliament made plans to draw up a ‘cat eradication’ program, aiming to eliminate 20 million cats, 17 million of which are feral and are destroying the national wildlife species on that continent. The city of Toronto recently (January/99) tried to pass a bylaw controlling cats. It was struck down by incensed cat owners who insist upon the right to impose their pet cats on the rest of the population. For some reason, cat owners and the public would rather ignore the statistics and continue to destroy cats and wildlife, and to waste tax dollars and goodwill, by euthanizing overpopulated pet cat populations rather than being responsible for their pets.

I love my cat.  What can I do?

The CATS IN KENNELS PROGRAM urges you to acknowledge your responsibility as a cat owner. Owning a cat entails a commitment to your pet, whom you should consider a family member. But owning a cat is also an ENVIRONMENTAL RESPONSIBILITY. Just because you love cats, it does not negate the fact that they are lethal, indeterminate killers and hunters of birds and other small wildlife. Domestic cats need to be kept indoors or in a safe, enclosed outdoor kennel when outside. Screened-in porches work wonders for this purpose, provided that you can separate the kennel from a main entrance door where they could be let out by accident. Unless you are staying with your cat at all times, we do not recommend tying cats to a stake as it makes them vulnerable to other animals.

Also, NEUTER YOUR CAT. Unless you are in the business of cat breeding, you do not need to contribute to the cat overpopulation problem. Do not let your cat outdoors unless it is in a safe cat kennel, enclosed at the top and bottom.  ‘Cat Fancy’ magazine is to be commended for its articles on creating outdoor enclosures and havens for cats.

There are commercial kennels available as well through most pet shops (just be sure to cover the top and seal off the bottom). Provide shade, water, shelter and toilet facilities. By giving your cat a safe, enclosed outdoor kennel, you will be protecting him from diseases such as rabies, injury from other animals or vehicles, parasites, abuse by humans, and from being eaten by coyotes. Indoor cats live up to twenty years; free roaming cats live only three to five years. And you will be saving and protecting wildlife.

Some Animal Rights groups want to keep wild (feral)
cat colonies outside. Is this a good idea?

No, it is definitely NOT a good idea, either for the cats themselves or for wildlife. Recent studies have shown that even when feral cats are spayed and released, and medically treated for parasites and disease, the colonies attract more cats who themselves are not neutered or healthy or disease-free.

Keeping feral cat colonies in existence only continues and multiplies the problem of ever-reproducing cats. And for every cat in every cat colony, there are hundreds of birds and small animals who will die needless deaths, all because of misguided, self-proclaimed 'cat lovers'. Feral cat colonies need to be eradicated. If money is to be spent protecting feral cat colonies, it would be better spent by creating a fenced-in enclosure, much like at a zoo, where treated, neutered feral cats can be released, monitored and controlled. True cat lovers want to protect cats, and want to change our society's 'dime a dozen' attitude about cats. Many animal control societies' answer to the problem seems to be to adopt more and more cats out to the public, without educating people about the environmental impact of those very cats, without themselves acknowledging the environmental impact of those cats, and without having a 'humane' and caring attitude, one of honesty and accountability, for the painful and unnecessary death and injury caused to birds and other small, wild animals.

           Promote TNVE, not TNR

  Please note that the Cats in Kennels Program does not support TNR (trap, neuter and Release) or maintaining feral cats, as individuals or in colonies, in nature.

  Letting feral cats loose in the environment even with TNR  is not environmentally or humanely responsible. If proponents of feral cats feel they must protect and maintain the existence of feral cats, they need to be directly responsible for them and eliminate their impact upon wildlife. Instead of TNR, I promote TNVE. Proponents of feral cats can fund and provide giant cat pens like those in a zoo, and set them up on their properties, or in an area close to and with the knowledge of humane societies. Feral cats should not be released loose into nature. Instead, Trap; Neuter, Vaccinate for rabies, and Enclose them, or Eliminate the colony. Release should apply only to a contained Enclosure  where they can be managed healthfully and humanely

in an Enclosed environment, without destroying wildlife.

  Where feral cats are diseased and seriously injured, and / or if there is no feral cat enclosed compound available where they can be maintained in a healthful existence, where they can be fed and sheltered without destruction

to native wildlife and without introducing an unnatural food source for wildlife through their feeding, then the colony must be Eliminated. We do believe that the painless euthanasia of feral cats is more humane to both the cats and to wildlife than letting the cats loose again.

To be truly humane, we need to care about

all animals,

not just domestic cats.

We need to look at the big picture,

the whole equation,

not just see what we want to see.

  We live in a culture that supports the hunting of wildlife, the trapping of wildlife, and the culling of wildlife, yet we do not transfer this necessity onto feral and free ranging cats — an introduced domestic, predatory species, overpopulated and uncontrolled in the natural environment where wildlife attempt to survive and rear their young. This is a problem created by human activity and misplaced affection that favours one species, a domestic one, over wildlife species that endure other pressures as well, like habitat loss, climate change, toxics in the environment, manmade structures and other pressures that we do not fully comprehend. Species of animal life are disappearing worldwide at a rate of one to three species per day. Controlling the cat problem that we have created is the single most simple solution to a major cause of wildlife depletion.

FOR A SAMPLE RESOLUTION OR

BY-LAWS THAT WOULD WORK

IN YOUR COMMUNITY,

PLEASE SEE BELOW.

                               By-laws

Here is a sample Resolution followed by information to guide the creation of By-laws that address free ranging and feral cats. This Resolution was passed in 2006 and is in use by a wildlife organization.

Feral and free-ranging domestic cats are exotic species to North America. Exotic species are recognized as one of the most widespread and serious threats to the integrity of native wildlife populations and natural ecosystems. Exotic species present special challenges for wildlife managers because their negative impacts are poorly understood by the general public, many exotic species have become such an accepted component of the environment that many people regard them as "natural," some exotic species have advocacy groups that promote their continued presence, and few policies and laws deal directly with their control. Perhaps no issue has captured more of the challenges for contemporary wildlife management than the impacts of feral or free-ranging human companion or domestic animals. The domestic cat is the companion animal that recently has attracted the most attention for its impact on wildlife species.

Domestic cats originated from an ancestral wild species, the European and African wild cat (Felis silvestris). The domestic cat (Felis catus) is now considered a separate species. The estimated numbers of pet cats in urban and rural regions of the United States have grown from 30 million in 1970 to nearly 65 million in 2000. Reliable estimates of the present total cat population are not available. Nationwide, approximately 30% of households have cats. In rural areas, approximately 60% of households have cats.

The impact of domestic cats on wildlife is difficult to quantify. However, a growing body of literature strongly suggests that domestic cats are a significant factor in the mortality of small mammals, birds, reptiles, and amphibians. Because free-ranging cats often receive food from humans, they can reach population levels that may create areas of abnormally high predation rates on wildlife. When the wildlife prey is a threatened or endangered species, the result may be extirpation or extinction. Effects of cat predation are most pronounced in island settings (both actual islands and islands of habitat), where prey populations are already low or stressed by other factors, or in natural areas where cat colonies are established. Competition with native predators, disease implications for wildlife populations, and pet owners' attitudes toward wildlife and wildlife management also are important issues.

Extensive popular debate over absolute numbers or types of prey taken is not productive. The number of cats is undeniably large. Even if conservative estimates of prey taken are considered, the number of prey animals killed is immense. Feeding cats does not deter them from killing wildlife for they do not always eat what they kill. Humans introduced cats to North America, and humans must be responsible for the control and removal of cats that prey on wildlife.

This policy in regard to feral and free-ranging domestic cats is to:

1. Strongly support and encourage the humane elimination of feral cat colonies.

2. Support the passage and enforcement of local and state ordinances prohibiting the public feeding of feral cats, especially on public lands, and release of unwanted pet or feral cats into the wild.

3. Strongly support educational programs and materials that call for all pet cats to be kept indoors, in outdoor enclosures, or on a leash.

4. Support programs to educate and encourage pet owners to neuter or spay their cats, and encourage all pet adoption programs to require potential owners to spay or neuter their pet.

5. Support the development and dissemination of sound, helpful information on what individual cat owners can do to minimize predation by free-ranging cats.

6. Pledge to work with the conservation and animal welfare communities to educate the public about the negative impact of free-ranging and feral cats on native wildlife, including birds, small mammals, reptiles, amphibians, and endangered species.

7. Support educational efforts to encourage the agricultural community to keep farm-cat numbers at low, manageable levels and use alternative, environmentally safe rodent control methods.

8. Encourage researchers to develop better information on the impacts of feral and free-ranging cats on native wildlife populations.

9. Recognize that cats as pets have a long association with humans, and that responsible cat owners are to be encouraged to continue caring for the animals under their control.

10. Oppose the passage of any local or state ordinances that legalize the maintenance of "managed" (trap/neuter/release) free-ranging cat colonies.

Here are some requirements that are successful in various communities' By-laws. Education of the public is critical to ensuring the success of programs to control free ranging and feral cats in the community.

1. Provisions in ordinances should include Mandatory spaying and neutering of all cats over six months of age. The only exception is for breeders of registered breeds of cats, wherein a Breeder's Permit must be purchased and renewed annually, and the breeder's facility would be subject to inspection by an SPCA, Humane Society or By-law Officer to ensure the healthful, humane treatment of the cats. Persons who allow their cats to reproduce would be subject to fines that exceed the cost of a spay or neuter of their cat, to provide an incentive for neutering. The community could subsidize local veterinarians for the first year after the bylaws are introduced to offer reduced costs for  spaying and neutering, to encourage cat owners and facilitate reduced breeding. After one year, a zero tolerance policy must be implemented. Pet owners should be required to keep their  spay or neuter certificate for the life of the animal for verification.

2.  The ordinance should require all cats to be vaccinated yearly against Rabies. The spay or neuter certificate must be provided for each animal. Veterinarians must advise the public of the bylaw that any cat over six months of age must be spayed or neutered.

3.  The ordinance should require all cats to be confined to their owner's property, or physically restrained or contained when off the premises.

4.  The ordinance should prohibit the public feeding of feral and free ranging cats, the maintenance of cat colonies, and the release of unwanted pet or feral cats into the wild, with fines for those who do so. The local government should be responsible for TNVE of the free ranging and feral cats — Trap; then Neuter, Vaccinate and Enclose in an enclosure or facility, or Eradicate the colony where no facilities exist.

5.  Some communities require all cats to be licensed. However, if the first four provisions are successful it may not be necessary to license all cats, as only breeders of cats would need to obtain an annual license.

The American Bird Conservancy's Cats Indoors campaign offers much

reference material on Cat Restraint Laws and Ordinances, as well as

several links to others who are addressing the problem successfully.

………..

  Being a true animal lover means loving wildlife as well, not just cute and cuddly kittens, and not just domestic cats. People need to build or buy a cat kennel if they are going to have a cat, and if they insist on letting them outside for some of the time.

Cats who are in kennels during the day get to enjoy the fresh air and sunshine, yet cannot harm the wildlife and are at no harm themselves.

And for real cat lovers, you can have five or ten cats in a roomy kennel that are no problem to neighbours whatsoever. But if your neighbour on either side of you has a loose cat, the cat overpopulation problem is still a risk, and wildlife will be destroyed. You, however, will not be contributing to the problem. You will be part of the solution! Share your success with other cat owners.

It is time for humane societies,

veterinarians, biologists,

municipal by-laws, environmental organizations,

and members of the public

to place the expectation of

environmentally sound, responsible,

truly humane cat ownership

where it belongs:

with Cat Owners themselves.

It is time.

Do you know the local licensed wildlife rehabilitation centre for your area? Contact your local humane society and Natural Resources office to have this information on hand for your reference. Wildlife Rehabilitators can provide more information for you on the number of animals and birds killed and maimed by cats as experienced first-hand. Here are two centres who may be able to refer you to your local wildlife rehabilitators.

The Wild Bird Care Centre

  Canada

  (613) 828-2849
http://wildbirdcarecentre.org/

  or

  Medicine River Wildlife Rehabilitation Centre

  Box 115

  Spruce View AB     T0M 1V0   Canada

  (403) 728-3467 
www.medicineriverwildlifecentre.ca

For information about the American Bird Conservancy’s ‘Cats Indoors!’ campaign and for educational materials for schools and other institutions, excellent research data and contacts:

    American Bird Conservancy

    Cats Indoors! Campaign

    1731 Connecticut Ave., NW, 3rd floor

    Washington, DC USA 20009

    Phone:  (202) 234-7181

    www.abcbirds.org

Please copy this information

and distribute it freely.

Present this information about the CATS IN KENNELS Program to your organizations and schools in your community, at fairs and community events.  Do a school project or a speech on the subject.  Feel free to address the public with this information. Let your local humane society, veterinarians and environmental groups know that this is a serious issue about which the public has a right to be informed. This is a word of mouth campaign whose time is long overdue.  Its success depends on you.

Here are some ideas: Have a cat kennel design contest! Start a business building kennels. Build a luxury cat condo and raffle it off at a fundraiser. Let us know how you do.

Thank you for your participation.

CATS IN KENNELS.

Simple. Easy.

Safe for cats, birds, mammals,

reptiles and other animals.

Environmentally Responsible.

Humane to both cats and

small wildlife.

Why not?

The information and statistics provided in this site are taken from the many studies that have been done on cat predation.

Reference Articles

Some reference articles are:

Bird's Eye View, David M. Bird; Vehicule Press, 1999, ISBN 1-55065-119-6; "Keeping Cats and Birds Safe", CH2, pp 84-93.

Impacts of Feral and Free-ranging Cats on Bird Species of Conservation Concern: A Five-State Review of New York, New  Jersey, Florida, California, and Hawaii; 2006; American Bird Conservancy. (The evidence is clear, the report shows – free-roaming cats are bad for birds. The report says state and federal resources for controlling feral cats must be significantly increased to achieve the goals identified in Endangered Species Recovery Plans and State Comprehensive Wildlife Conservation Strategies. The report is available at http://www.abcbirds.org/abcprograms/policy/cats/index.html .)

The Bird Almanac: a guide to essential facts and figures of the world's birds, David M. Bird. (A table (p55), Relative Annual Human-Related Mortality of Birds in the U.S., shows Cat Predation the FOURTH HIGHEST cause of bird mortality out of ELEVEN studied causes. Cat Predation is a leading cause of bird death in the U.S., after Buildings (100 to 1,000 million deaths), Power lines (up to 174 million deaths), Recreational Hunting (120 million deaths), then Cat Predation, which causes 118 million bird deaths. Note that Cat Predation figures for small mammals, amphibians and reptiles are not included in this study.      SOURCE of data for this table: Adapted from R.C. Banks, Human-related Mortality of Birds in the United States, Special Scientific Report, Wildlife No. 215, U.S. Dept. Interior (Washington DC, 1979); F.B. Gill, Ornithology (Englewood Cliffs, NJ: Prentice Hall, 1990); D. A. Klem, Biology of Collisions Between Birds and Windows, PhD Thesis, Southern Illinois University, 1979; J.S. Coleman, S.A. Temple, and S.R. Craven, Cats and Wildlife, A Conservation Dilemma (Madison WI: Cooperative Extension Publ., 1997); D.M. Bird, unpublished data; W.P.Erickson, unpublished data; and A. Manville, unpublished data.)

Pet or Predator, The Choice is Up to You, Birds of the World, Spring 1995, pp 44-45.

Is There A Killer in Your House?, George H Harrison/ National Wildlife Vol 30. No 6.

Domestic Lives / Fixed for Life, David Waltner Toews / Harrowsmith No 102 April/92.

How to Create a Killer, Diane Swanson/ B.C. Wildlife Review/ Summer 1978.

Killer (Kitty) Cats, George H. Harrison, Nature Watch/ Sports Afield/ Sept 1991.

Attack of the Killer Cats, Leon Jaroff, Time/ August 1989.

Demography & Movements of Free-Ranging Domestic Cats in Rural Illinois, Richard E. Warner/ J. Wildlife Management 49 (2) 340.

How Many Birds Do Cats Kill?, Coleman & Temple/ Dept of Wildlife Ecology, University of Wisconsin.

City of Toronto, Dept of Public Health, Animal Control Services, 1993 through 1998 Annual Reports.

Domestic Cats - Our Imported Wildlife Terrorists, Bob Bancroft/ NS Conservation, Vol 14 (4) 1990.

Toxoplasmosis in Cats and Man, Feline Advisory Bureau, U.K., Info sheet #13.

Autism and the Immune Connection, Michaael J. Goldberg, MD. At

web.syr.edu/~jmwobus/autism/immune-connection.html (64 references cited).

Somehow I Think I May Be Starting Yet Another Uproar, Gary Ball, Angler & Hunter, Nov/Dec/1990, Vol 15 no 3 (re impact of dogs and cats on wildlife).

Do You Know Where your Cat Is?, Paul Van Gurp, Nature Alert, insert of Nature Canada, CNF’s magazine, Autumn 1997, Vol 7 No 4, p 5.

Mitigating the Impact of Free-roaming Cats on Wildlife, Guy R. Hodge, Humane Soc of US/ 1995 IWRC Conference Proceedings.

Outdoor Enclosures, Charlene Beane, Cat Fancy Magazine, 1988.  (Also, there was an article in the magazine in July/98 on cat enclosures.)

Is There A War Against Cats?, Gil Llamont/ Mainstream, 1994 pp 9-13.

A Reversible Catastrophe, Cats: A Heavy Toll on Songbirds, Rich Stallcup, Winging It, 1992, pp 10-11.

A Catastrophe for Birds, American Bird Conservancy/ Bird Conservation, Summer Nesting 1997, pp 10-11.

Cats As Cats Can, New Scientist 2/April/1987, p 25 (re 400 million cats in the world).

Save the Birds - Why Bother?, Thomas Urquhart, New Scientist, 2/July/1987, pp 55-58.

Pet Cats Control Village Wildlife, Paul Murdin, New Scientist, 6/August/1987, p 28.

Feedback, New Scientist 21/April/1988, page 68.

Feedback, New Scientist 31/March/1990, p 70.

Should the Cat take the Rap?, Ian Anderson (re Melbourne Australia), New Scientist, 21/May/94, pp 13-14.

Cat Cleansing in Red Deer, Chris Champion, Alberta Report 23/ #32, 22/July/96, p 12.

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                                                     Webpage edited 12/June/2011

Photo: This style of cat kennel is called "Heavenly" - Kitty Heaven.