As temperatures across the province start to drop, the B.C. SPCA is encouraging people who are thinking about adopting a furry family member to consider cats, and turn 'brrrs' into 'purrs.'
From Thursday (Nov. 24) to Dec. 5, all adult cat adoption fees are 50 per cent off.
“We’re reminding British Columbians that when one cat is adopted, it frees up shelter space and allows us to bring another cat in from the cold,” said Lorie Chortyk, B.C. SPCA general manager of community relations, in a press release. “The society takes in several thousands of cats each year; right now, there’s more than 1,600 felines in B.C. SPCA care who need loving, forever homes.”
According to the SPCA, homeless cats are a major issue in B.C., often suffering from injury, illness, predator attacks and frostbite. Illegal abandonment and animals which aren’t spayed or neutered contribute to the problem as do cats without permanent identification, such as a microchip or a tattoo, which are never reunited with their guardians.
Chortyk notes the adoption fee includes vaccinations, spaying or neutering, permanent ID, any necessary medical care, and internal and external parasite treatment. Normal adoption counselling and matching takes place to ensure animals go to a good home, and Petsecure provides six weeks of free pet insurance. All cats are microchipped, and for only $12 annually or a $45 lifetime fee, the animal will be registered in the provincewide B.C. Pet Registry, to help ensure if a pet is lost, it can be found and reunited with its family.
Please visit spca.bc.ca/adopt to search for adoptable animals online.