World Stray Animals Day is coming up on April 4th. There are as many as 600 million strays worldwide, with roughly 70 million of them living here in the US. That’s a pretty overwhelming number! A Tipp City, OH vet lists a few things that you can do to help strays in this article.

Fix Your Own Pet

One of the best things that you can do is just make sure that your furry buddy doesn’t add to the problem with unwanted litters. Pet overpopulation is a huge problem! A single pair of kitties can have 2, 072, 514 descendants in only 8 years, while dogs can have up to 67,000 in just six. If your furry buddy hasn’t been spayed or neutered yet, make that appointment right away!

Support TNR Programs

TNR is short for Trap/Neuter/Release. That pretty clearly explains the intent of these programs: they trap strays, fix them, and then set them free again. While this may not improve the kitties’ overall circumstances, it will at least keep them from reproducing. Every little bit helps!

Basic Care

Stray cats often desperately need food, clean water, and veterinary care. Of course, this may not be as simple as it sounds: leaving food out at your place may not only attract cats, but rats and other vermin as well. You’ll also need to stay within the parameters of what’s legal locally. That said, small acts of kindness can help. Check local ordinances, and ask your vet for advice.

Barn Cats

Do you have a barn or stable? If so, you may want to ‘hire’ a few stray kitties. Fluffy is a great mouser, and is often more than happy to work for her keep. This may end up saving you money in the long run. Rodents can contaminate grain and hay, spread parasites and diseases, and can damage wiring. Those things can end up costing much more than it would to provide a few stray kitties with food, water, and veterinary care.

Support Charities

There are many wonderful animal charities that are trying to help stray animals. Consider helping one of them out. Donations are great, of course, but you can also look into volunteering. Even sharing posts on social media can help! Is your pet due for an exam? Contact us, your local Tipp City, OH animal clinic, today!