Some background: The U.S. is suffering a cat overpopulation problem. Animal shelters suffer under the weight of high demand for services and too few resources, and the result is a burgeoning population of unowned cats that urgently require attention and effective management.

When a non-native species overtakes an area, it can negatively impact delicate ecosystems through pollution and the spreading of disease. Stray animals usually aren’t vaccinated, leading to the transmission of rabies and other life-threatening diseases to other animal populations.

Overpopulation is a problem that results in thousands of animals being killed each month. Through the routine procedure of spaying and neutering dogs and cats, there would be fewer unwanted animals, thus reducing or eliminating the heartbreaking process of euthanizing innocent animals left in our overcrowded shelters.

Pet abandonment is a serious problem in our society today. Abandoned pets experience hunger and illness. A lot of abandoned pets pollute our society by pooping at places where they shouldn’t be and by spreading germs to us. This is because they don’t receive proper checkups and doesn’t have someone to look after.

According to the SPCA, pets are sentient beings – that means they have physiological and psychological needs. Abandoning them can cause a great deal of stress. “When we decide to welcome a new furry member to our family, it is up to us to provide them with the lifelong care they require,” said Kapuscinska.

Walking your dog is essential for their health, but not doing it doesn’t make you cruel. You might never do dog walks but instead, spend time together and perform other exercises.

Research has shown that cats don’t show signs of separation anxiety when their owner is away. Some cat owners know this: you return from a holiday but your cat acts pretty indifferently! Other cats even behave like they are “offended” and pretend not to see you at all.

Cats have a considerable capacity when it comes to memory retention. They can remember for as long as ten years, although a lot of factors can change this. One of the factors is how close you are with your pet. If your pet has been with you for a long time, it will remember you even if you’re gone for quite a while.

While some older cats become more aloof and less interactive, others become more needy. They seem to crave more attention. Show your older cat plenty of love and affection and she will be happy. To learn more about old cat behavior, go to Behavior of the Senior Cat.