Wanda Price’s phone is a busy one.
The Humboldt SPCA manager says her phones rings about three to six times on a daily basis with people calling about cats from around the region, the majority being around Humboldt.
While some are family pets out on a stroll, others are strays that are on the prowl for food, water, and, if the season is right, other cats.
The problem looks terrible and is getting worse, says Price.
Not enough people spay and neuter their pets, says Price, and this is just contributing to the problem of wild cats wandering around the city.
“They’re reproducing all over the place. People need to stop getting them unless they’re going to spay and neuter them.”
Bylaws regarding pets require owners to keep them in their house or yard but Price says much of the time, people kick out their cats when they are in heat because they become a nuisance in the home.
“This time of the year is the worst because this is the time of the year that all the female cats are in heat so all the toms are out. It’s just a vicious, vicious cycle and we cannot look after all those cats.”
When Price does receive a call about a stray cat, there is very little that can be done because they never have room for strays at the SPCA. Also, if Price picks up a cat that already has an owner, there is little chance the cat could find its way home.
People need to get responsible, she says, especially with many free kitten and cat ads circulating around Facebook and garage sale sites. Price says all cats from the SPCA are de-wormed, vaccinated, fixed, and healthy for $100 but the SPCA continues to fight free sites in terms of finding homes for cats.
There are options, says Price for low cost spays and neuters, including some in Saskatoon and Watrous.
