Before you make good on threats to banish your misbehaved cat to the local shelter, consider this: Fluffy’s chances of finding a new home may not be as rosy as you might hope.
Felines surrendered by their owners are more stressed, fall ill more easily and are therefore euthanized more often than their stray counterparts at the shelter, according to new research by Kathryn Dybdall at the University of Nebraska in Omaha, US.
Dybdall studied 86 shelter cats and discovered that owner-surrendered cats were more likely to hide at the back of their kennel with their heads down and eyes wide, rather than resting comfortably on their sides as strays were more apt to do. Additionally, the records of 260 cats that developed an upper respiratory infection at the shelter revealed that surrendered cats become ill faster.
And sick, stressed-out cats were less likely to be deemed adoptable and were more likely to be put to sleep as a result.
That’s right, poppets. Take your selfishly unwanted cat to a shelter and you effectively sign its death warrant. It’s that simple, and it’s that shameful.