Chelan mayor puts paw print on World Spay and Neuter Day proclamation

CHELAN – The city council, in its regular bi-monthly meeting on Feb. 13, was treated to a presentation by the Chelan Valley Feral Cat Project (CVFCP) in conjunction with a special proclamation signed by Mayor Erin McCardle naming Feb. 27, 2024, World Spay Day in Chelan.

CVFCP Director April Leaf delivered the presentation and explained that while cats are a popular family pet, those left unaltered can quickly become too much of a good thing. This is especially true of colonies of feral cats.

Leaf related figures show how quickly numbers can multiply. Female cats become fertile at four months of age and can produce an average four-kitten litter twice a year. By extension:

1 cat x 4 months = 5 cats

5 cats x 12 months = 60 cats

1 cat x 7 years = 4,948 cats

Leaf explained the benefits of altering pet cats – and dogs – include reduced spraying and roaming, less aggression, and increased lifespan. 

“Dr. Barb Fehr says that by having your cat or dog altered when they are young reduces their chances of getting cancer 100 percent,” said Leaf. “That’s a fact most people don’t know.”

Leaf also announced that CVFCP has a new website, chelanferalcats.org.

The one-page proclamation signed by McCardle includes some sobering facts of its own.

• 2.4 million of the three million cats and dogs euthanized in animal shelters each year due to a lack of critical resources and public awareness are healthy, treatable, and adoptable.
• Spaying and neutering is especially vital as shelters across the country are being inundated with animals, showing an increase of 100,000 more animals in shelters in January 2022 than in January 2021.
• Pets provide companionship to 67 percent of U.S. households, approximately 86.9 million families.
• Nearly 90 percent of pets live in poverty, and 98 percent of community (feral and stray) cats are unaltered.
• Spaying and neutering have been shown to dramatically reduce the number of animals euthanized in animal shelters, and programs exist to assist with the cost of spaying or neutering pets living in poverty and community cats.
• A group of concerned Chelan Valley citizens formed the Chelan Valley Feral Cat Project and with the help of local veterinarian Dr. Barb Fehr and other valley veterinarians, have been able to Trap Neuter Release 113 cats and rehomed 35 kittens.

To contact the Chelan Valley Feral Cat Project, email CVFCP2023@gmail.com, visit online at chelanferalcats.org.

Mike Maltais: 360-333-8483 or michael@ward.media