How We’re Advancing a World Where Cats Get a Second Chance

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How We’re Advancing a World Where Cats Get a Second Chance

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It’s sad and startling: Of the 3.3 million cats who entered shelters in 2023, 330,000 were euthanized. Some of these cats may have been very sick or injured. But others were euthanized for preventable reasons, like:

Not enough financial resources

Not enough space in shelters

Not enough volunteers, foster homes or adoptions

At Give Them Ten, we believe no cat should lose their life simply because they entered a shelter. Instead, we envision a no-kill nation where every cat gets a chance at life, love and a home.

No-Kill - or Not?

The term “no-kill” has sparked controversy in recent years. Some animal advocates claim it demonizes open-admission shelters who take in high-risk animals, like neonates, seniors, and sick or injured cats. For shelters like this, we understand that a 90% or higher live-release rate of animals isn’t always possible. A live release rate is the percentage of animals who leave a shelter with a “live outcome,” like getting adopted, returning to their family, being returned to their outdoor home or getting transferred. We also don’t designate individual shelters as “no-kill” or “kill.”

Euthanasia as a Last Resort

In some cases, euthanasia is the most humane outcome for a cat. A nation where no cats are killed isn’t the same as a nation where no cats are euthanized. As anyone who has put a beloved pet down knows, it can be the most compassionate choice for a suffering animal.

However, we still believe “no-kill nation” is a helpful vision for a world where no animals lose their lives for preventable reasons. We hope to end the use of euthanasia as a means of population control in shelters.

A Humane Solution for Every Cat

The right solution is different for each cat! Some cats are social and love people. The right solution for them may be a loving home. Some cats are shy but are great mousers. The right solution for these cats may be a barn. Some cats have lived outside their whole lives and are happiest that way. The right solution for them may be to live in a community of cats outside.

So, how do we help each cat live their best life? We raise awareness and we equip shelters with life-saving practices.

Cats are a domestic species who rely on human kindness to thrive.

Lifesaver 1: Spay and Neuter

There are more cats in our country than there are people who want to care for cats. An estimated 30-40 million cats are “free-roaming.”

By surgically removing a cat’s ability to reproduce, we decrease the number of unwanted kittens born. This, in turn, decreases the population of free-roaming cats. Some studies have found as much as a 78% decrease in community cat populations that were spayed and neutered! In a no-kill nation, fewer cats born means more cats get a chance at life, love and a home.

But spay and neuter efforts aren’t just about reducing the cat population. These surgeries also give cats longer lives and make them better pets and neighbors — making them less likely to be euthanized. When a female cat gets spayed, her risk for developing reproductive cancers and pyometra (an infection of the uterus) plummets. She also stops going into heat, which means she’s less likely to yowl or escape. (All the cat people said hooray!) When a male cat gets neutered, his risk of developing testicular cancer diminishes. A neutered cat sprays less, and he’s not as aggressive. (Another win for the humans he lives with!) We’re on a mission to educate the public about the life-saving benefits of spay/neuter for all cats.

Lifesaver 2: Preventative Veterinary Care

Spay/neuter isn’t the only veterinary care a cat needs. Far too many cats die of preventable causes that result from not being vaccinated or microchipped. Preventative veterinary care is a critical component in a no-kill nation. For example, the FVRCP vaccine prevents panleukopenia in cats, a potentially fatal disease. Microchips save lives, too. Imagine someone’s cat gets lost outside and someone else takes that cat to a shelter. If that cat doesn’t have a microchip, it’s at risk for being turned away, moved to a shelter farther away or even euthanized.

All cats — whether they live outside or inside and have a human caregiver or not — need veterinary care. There are options for cats that aren’t socialized or easy to trap, too: Vet outreach programs like One Health treat the animal wherever they are.

Lifesaver 3: Community Cat Care

“Community cats” live outdoors, and they aren’t someone’s pet. They can be safe and happy outside — as long as they’re spayed/neutered and have food, water and shelter. As a general rule, community cats should only be taken to a shelter or clinic if they are not altered. But too often these cats are removed from their outdoor homes and taken to shelters. At best, they’re turned away; at worst, they’re euthanized. Sadly, community cats make up the largest percentage of cats euthanized in shelters.

We advocate for Trap, Neuter, and Return as the safest and most humane method of controlling the population of community cats.

Lifesaver 4: Adoption

In order to save cats’ lives, shelters rely on people who adopt. Not only does adoption give a cat a loving home for life, but it also frees up shelter space for more cats who need help. A no-kill nation needs humans who adopt from their local shelter. (Adopting a friendly free-roaming cat counts, too!) It especially requires humans who are willing to adopt cats who are often overlooked and are most at risk, such as:

Senior cats
Unsocialized or shy cats
Cats with medical issues
Bonded pairs of cats
Disabled cats
Feline Immunodeficiency Virus positive (FIV+) or FeLV+ Cats

Lifesaver 5: Foster Programs

More cats arrive at shelters than shelters have space for. Many shelters rely on foster families to help them house and care for cats. In a no-kill nation, people volunteer to foster so that cats don’t unnecessarily lose their lives. But creating more space isn’t the only way fostering helps! It also:

Helps socialize cats so that they become more adoptable. Foster cats get the one-on-one attention they need to feel safe with humans. This makes them more friendly and more likely to be adopted when they return to the shelter.

Saves the lives of cats who need around-the-clock care, like neonates (newborn kittens) or cats with diabetes.

Gives cats a vacation from the shelter. This is especially helpful for cats who are recovering from surgery or are long-term shelter residents.

Fostering is a short-term commitment that usually lasts 2-4 weeks. And yes, we’re big fans of “foster fails,” which happen when a family decides to adopt the cat they’ve been fostering!

Lifesaver 6: Changing the National Conversation

The final and most crucial building block of a no-kill nation are the humans who take responsibility for cats. Cats are a domestic species who rely on human kindness to thrive. But unfortunately, not everyone likes cats or knows what kind of care they need. At Give Them Ten, we create marketing communications to inform the public. We promote the benefits of spay/neuter. We encourage cat lovers to get involved with their local shelter through adoption, foster and volunteering. We work to create a positive attitude toward community cats. If you want to join our mission, we would love to have you! Here’s how you can help:

Follow and share animal welfare content on social media — We’re on TikTok, Instagram, Facebook, and YouTube. When you share, it helps spread the word to people who may not know how to help cats.