The fight to stop animal cruelty is very important to us here at Iams. Cats face some unique animal cruelty issues that do not affect dogs. At Iams, cat health and well-being is very important to us so we want to encourage our fellow pet lovers to help look for and alleviate these cat cruelty problems in their communities.

One problem affecting cats is that of feral cat colonies. Feral cats are unsocialized cats who may be one or more generations removed from a home environment and may live in a group or colony of similar cats. Female feral cats spend most of their lives pregnant and hungry and most of the female kittens born into the colony will also. Male feral cats roam and fight to win mates, often suffering terrible wounds in the process. Oftentimes, communities round up these feral cat colonies and euthanize them, not knowing what else to do.

The Humane Society of the United States and the ASPCA both promote the more humane solution of Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR), which is also supported by Iams. Cats in these types of colonies can be trapped, taken to a veterinarian to be neutered and vaccinated, then returned to their colony location where they can be fed and monitored by a caretaker. TNR helps prevent new kittens being born into the colony and prevents the spread of disease in a humane way. For more information about how you can help control the feral cat population in your community, contact your local Humane Society or SPCA.

Another problem affecting mostly cats is that of hoarding, or collecting animals in such a large number that it is impossible to provide adequate care for all of them. Hoarding is often a symptom of a greater mental illness like obsessive-compulsive disorder. Often hoarders, who are usually well-educated with excellent communication skills, will actively solicit animals in the guise of operating an animal rescue and adoption service. The cats being held by a hoarder often endure a plethora of ailments, such as malnutrition, parasitic infestation, infection, and disease, and they often suffer for a longer duration than most animal cruelty victims. You are the first line of defense in helping your local Humane Society and the animal lovers at Iams. Cat lovers should be observant in their own communities and report possible acts of hoarding to their local police or animal control.

At Iams, cats are very important to us since we are animal lovers and pet owners ourselves. Educate yourself about the animal cruelty problems cats face and make a pledge to help stop cat cruelty in your community.