Cats Safe at Home
Cats Safe at Home (TM) is a new way of thinking about cat ownership that protects both cats and wildlife. This is another progressive Portland-area collaboration that includes an unusual agreement between:
- Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon
- Bird Alliance of Oregon
- Bonnie L. Hays Animal Shelter of Washington County
- Multnomah County Animal Services (that's us!)
What do such different agencies have in common? We all believe in the value of keeping cats securely at home instead of wandering the streets. For MCAS and Bonnie L Hays Animal Shelter of Washington County, keeping cats at home would drastically reduce the numbers of stray, orphaned and lost cats and kittens coming into the shelter every year. For Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon, fewer cats on the streets leads to fewer kittens being born to the life of a feral cat. And, the Bird Alliance of Oregon recognizes that a long-term commitment to reducing feral and stray cats on the landscape will protect endangered, native wildlife from cat predation. Everyone--especially the cat--wins with Cats Safe at Home (TM).
Take the pledge to show your commitment to keeping your Cats Safe at Home.
Do you keep your cat safe at home? You're precisely the kind of person we need! Help spread the word. By your example, we aim to encourage our community to think about their role in caring for the environment starting with their own dear kitty!
We'll send you a window decal (pictured) to display on your car windows, living room windows or your ukelele! The goal is to let everyone know you keep your Cats Safe at Home. Let's bring this conversation to light and talk about how we can do better for our cats, birds & wildlife.
Learn How to Transition Cats Indoors
What does the program recommend?
- Good: If you absolutely can not keep your cat inside, keep your cat in your own backyard.
- Limit time outside during Spring when baby birds are learning to fly.
- Consider only letting your cat outside when you are there to supervise.
- Commit to making your next pet cat indoor-only.
- Have your cat wear a CatBib™ when outside (recommended by Audubon Magazine). In an independent scientific study, CatBibs™ were show to prevent 81% of cats from killing birds.
- Better: Keep cats indoors at all times. Provide enrichment and toys. Hang a bird feeder near his window perch for his entertainment.
- Best: Keep cats indoors, but provide an enclosed, outdoor "catio" for them to enjoy during nice weather.
Above all, make sure your cat is licensed, microchipped, spayed/neutered and wearing a collar with ID at all times.
Never abandon a cat. If you can not care for your cat, see our rehoming information page.
If there are feral cats in your neighborhood without ear tips (an ear tip means it's been neutered and is part of a cared-for colony), contact Feral Cat Coalition of Oregon for information about trapping, neutering and returning the cat. This will prevent future unwanted cats and eventually reduce or eliminate the population of feral cats.
- OregonLive article: "Keeping Cats Indoors Protects Cats and Wildlife"
