Humans: The Leading Cause of US Cat Mortality

Seventy-two percent of all cats entering animal pounds and shelters in the United States are killed, according to the most comprehensive data available. Only 2% of cats entering these facilities are reunited with their owners. ¹ Although most animal facilities that perform this killing do little recordkeeping, what data does exist demonstrates that the vast majority of cats entering these facilities are killed. Indeed, the number one documented cause of death of all cats in the United States is “euthanasia” in animal pounds and shelters. ² For feral cats, that number rises to 100%. Feral cats are typically the second generation of lost or abandoned pet cats, and are too fearful of humans to adjust to life as a house cat. In facilities where the only positive outcomes for animals are being returned to owners or adopted, there is only one fate for feral cats.

*The NCPPSP Shelter Statistics Survey also includes two categories of disposition, “Other” and “Unknown,” which are not explained. The figures for these categories are trifling—combined, under 5%—and are not included here.

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¹ See National Council on Pet Population Study & Policy, “ The Shelter Statistics Survey, 1994-97,” at https://www.petpopulation.org/statsurvey.html (last visited Dec. 1, 2007).

² See, e.g., Gary J. Patronek et al., Risk Factors for Relinquishment of Cats to an Animal Shelter, 209(3) JAVMA 582, 582 (1996). See also Leslie Sinclair, Euthanasia in the Animal Shelter in Shelter Medicine for Veterinarians and Staff 404 (Lila Miller & Stephen Zawistowski, eds., 2004).