End-of-summer hazards: protect your cat!

Many residents from the Laurentians asked the SPCA LL for help recently because their cat has been missing. This is an unfortunate situation, as we all know how painful it is to lose a cherished pet. Whenever we can, our team is more than happy to reunite a lost cat or dog with his or her family. However, this is not always possible.

As we head towards the end of the summer, food is getting scarce for wild animals and some are tempted to pray on cats. This situation compounded by the construction boom in our region, which forces wild animals to live closer and closer to human homes because they have nowhere else to go. Other cats have unfortunate encounters with vehicles on the road, and a small proportion of them just wander away.

So how do we protect our cats?

Of course, the best protection is simply not to let your cat out of the house. Some feel this is a radical solution, but many outdoors cats can adapt fairly easily to indoor life, provided their owner makes a minimal effort to make sure they exercise and play.

Another solution is to build a fenced-in area in your yard. This way, your cat can enjoy the great outdoors while staying safe.

You can also train your cat to be walked with a leash and a harness, or carry her on your chest, in a special carrier.

If you feel it's best to let your cat out by herself, make sure she wears an ID collar. This way, if she wanders away, you're more likely to find her at the municipal pound or at the SPCA LL. Also, consider keeping your cat inside for the night, since this is the time when most wild animals are out hunting.

Here's wishing for the safety of all cats!

Lovely cats need loving home

Here are three very special cats looking for a safe and loving home:

 Pedro is a two year old affectionate cat who loves to cuddle. Pedro has been at the shelter for more than five months. He enjoys the company of adults and children alike, as well as that of other cats, but he prefers not to be around dogs.

 Thena is a young female cat who loves to play! She was found in front of the shelter in the middle of last winter. She enjoys the company of adults and children and doesn't mind dogs, but she likes to be the only cat on her territory. Thena also loves to cuddle.

 The lovely Moon is an affectionate adult cat who was found in front of the SPCA LL last July. Moon gets along well with other cats and with dogs and enjoys the company of humans.

For more information about these pets, please contact our counsellors at the SPCA LL at (819) 326-4059 . Our adoption center is located at 355 Demontigny in Ste-Agathe-des-Monts and is open to the public from 1 p.m. to 6 p.m., seven days a week.