Feline Identification: Quebec Veterinarians Take Action

Hundreds of thousands of cats roam outside homes in Quebec. This is the warning issued by Quebec veterinarians on the eve of another day of cat sterilization. As part of this campaign, a survey was conducted to gain a better understanding of cat identification. According to the survey, 39% of households with cats allow their cats to go outside. Of those, 24% are left to fend for themselves during these outings; 8% do not leave the property; and 7% are kept on a leash. More concerning, according to industry professionals, is the low identification rate among these cats that stray: 51% of them have no way of being identified or of identifying their owner. This figure explains “the high rate of cats never claimed at shelters and the excessive number of euthanasias.” Methods of cat identification vary in terms of effectiveness: from a simple collar to the implantation of a microchip. On average, this group of animals has 1.2 animal identification marks. 20% of these cats wear only a collar without an engraved identification tag; 15% wear a municipal tag (license); and 4% wear a rabies tag. 13% do not have a collar. Electronic identification accounts for only 5% of Quebec’s cat population. In the province of Quebec alone, there are an estimated 1.5 million pet cats. In light of these findings, the Quebec Association of Small Animal Veterinarians reminds cat owners that allowing cats to roam significantly reduces their pets’ life expectancy and increases the risk of contracting disease. The goal of Sterilization Day is to prevent these stray cats from contributing to the feline overpopulation problem—“unwanted cats that end their lives in shelters or, worse, on the streets.” Added to this phenomenon is the issue of true stray cats. The veterinary profession, beyond the day of sterilization, is calling on municipalities to further encourage cat owners to properly identify their pets.