Litter mates

9/18/09 Two cat litter boxes and several hand towels, donated to Responsible Pet Care of Norway, ME

Let's agree right now to take responsibility for cats. Humans domesticated them (probably nearly 10,000 year ago), so now it's our deal.

According to the Humane Society, there are about 88.3 million cats owned in the U.S., with one in three households sporting a feline. Yep, a lot of people love cats.

But, that's only part of the story. Such things are nearly impossible to calculate, but a National Geographic article from 2004 estimated that there are another 70 million feral cats in the United States. Toss in stray cats - well, not literally; I frown upon cat throwing - and the number of cats slinking around out there boggles the mind.

By the way, estimates about how many birds are killed each year range wildly, but are certainly in the tens of millions, with the likely North American total at least 100 million.

Let's get real, folks. We need to do two things, and we need to do them now.

1) Keep your cats inside. Indoor cats don't kill birds and they don't crap in my yard (unlike my neighbor's cat).

2) Spay or neuter your cats. By the way, I plan to go to my grave still confused about the difference between spaying and neutering.

Among the folks who are doling out and following that great advice are the wonderful people at Responsible Pet Care in Norway, ME. Don't let the generic "Pet" in the name fool you, this place is all cats, all the time. Last year, they took in over 350 cats and successfully found homes for nearly that same number. Nonetheless, that place remains packed to the rafters with cuddly tabbies and eager mousers. Yes, Responsible Pet Care needs all the support it can get in its important mission, so I tried to play a small part today.

I donated several old hand towels, which they are apparently in need of, as well as two litter boxes that were just too small for our cats. We've got two seriously large critters. They basically need a bathtub-sized litter box. Their attempts to use the smaller boxes resembled that moment in the circus when the elephant stands on the little stool. Rather awkward.

So everyone ends happy. I got rid of several things today, Bird & Trane don't need to worry about uncomfortable morning constitutionals, the homeless kitties have some new accessories, and tomorrow the birds will be chirping. (As long as my neighbor starts taking responsibility for her cat.)