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Being a Responsible Cat Owner
- Tag and collar your cat. Most cats turned in to the Humane Society wearing collars are reunited with their owners. That's not true for cats found without identification.
- Keep your cat indoors. Studies show that indoor cats enjoy an average lifespan of 12-20 years; the life of an outdoor cat is usually less than half that long. Even an outdoor cat can adjust to life inside. It takes patience and work, but the reward is your cat's safety and well-being. For more information on keeping your cat indoors, check out our article or the American Bird Conservancy site.
- Take your cat to the vet for regular checkups and vaccinations, especially rabies. Fatal diseases, such as feline leukemia, are spread through contact with other cats - another reason to keep your cat indoors.
- Spay or neuter your cat. Cats that are spayed or neutered live longer and make better companions. And they don't contribute to the cat overpopulation problem. According to the Humane Society of the United States, one unspayed female cat and her offspring can produce 420,000 cats in seven years.
- Look for your cat immediately if it escapes outdoors. Don't assume it is out "hunting." When your cat is loose outside, it's in danger - from cars, free-roaming dogs, poisons, disease, cruel people, sharp objects and traps.
- Stay away from high places. Cats don't always land on their feet and can be seriously injured or killed in falls from upper level windows or porches that aren't enclosed.
- Teach your cat some simple commands. Most cats can be taught not to eat poisonous plants or jump up on the counter. Be consistent, gentle and most of all, patient. Repeat the lessons often.
- Avoid declawing! This painful and unnecessary operation can place your cat at a deadly disadvantage should it encounter a dog or other animal outdoors. Instead, provide a sturdy scratching post indoors and teach your cat to use it. This should satisfy your pet's scratching impulse.
- Spend time with your cat. It's a myth that cats are aloof; human companionship is one of their very real needs and they establish loving bonds with their human families.
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Volunteer Information Center |
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 Learn about DCHS's collaboration with Shelter from the Storm and Dane County Friends of Ferals. By working together we can reach our goal of making Dane County an adoption guarantee community by 2012. Click here for more information.
 The Feline Friends Fund provides lifesaving donations directly to the homeless cats at Dane County Humane Society. Contributions support cat adoption programs, spay and neuter surgeries to help reduce chronic overpopulation, as well as outreach and educational efforts to make our community a safer, kinder place for cats. Click here to donate directly to the Feline Friends Fund.
Learn more about businesses that support DCHS.  |
When you apply for a Kwik Card you can participate in their fundraising program. Instead of receiving a rebate for purchases made on your personal account, you have the option of selecting DCHS to receive your Kwik Rewards. In addition, Kwik Trip will donate 15% of the total purchases you made to DCHS. To sign up, call (888) 736-5945. |
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Connect with DCHS:
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5132 Voges Road, Madison, WI 53718
Phone: (608) 838 - 0413
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