An estimated 4 percent of cats and 14 percent of dogs are returned to their owners. 25 to 35 percent of all animals who enter U.S. shelters are adopted by new owners. For some reason cat owners seem inclined to believe that their companion is just roaming and will be back in a few days. Many municipal shelters will only hold an animal for 72 hours before placing for adoption or putting down. By the time that cat owners starts looking it may already be too late.
Many people take stray cats for granted and very few people think to take a stray to the shelter.
Cats can begin breeding when they reach puberty, which occurs when they are between four and twelve months old. Gestation period is 58 to 65 days and the average feline litter contains four to six kittens. The average fertile cat can produce about three litters per year and, without spaying, one female and her offspring can conceivably produce 420,000 descendants within seven years. That's the biggest help you can give to this problem. If you already have, then contribute donations to help others who may not be able to afford the operations spay or neuter their pets.