The Year of the Cat

The 2010 "Year of the Cat" Celebration

The Spartanburg Humane Society declared 2010 the Year of the Cat in order to reverse the fortune of felines in this community.

While kittens and cats are over-represented in the annual number of animals who are brought to the shelter, they are significantly under-represented in nearly all of the life saving services offered by the SHS, from spay/neuter to microchipping.

We noticed a trend in 2009 . . .

• 60% fewer cats than dogs were vaccinated at monthly clinics
• Also at monthly clinics, dogs were 7 times more likely to be microchipped than cats
• 13% fewer cats than dogs were spayed or neutered at the SHS Veterinary Clinic
• Less than 1% of stray cats were reclaimed by their owners
• At the SHS, three times less Frontline Plus flea and tick preventative was sold for cats than dogs

Reversing the trend in 2010 . . .

We wanted to begin to reverse that trend in 2010 by "celebrating" all of our regular services for cats, with specials on spay and neuter and adoptions.   In response, more cats and kittens were adopted and more unwanted litters were prevented.  We also met a lot of wonderful cat lovers who stopped in to buy frontline, or who shared videos of their feline friends. 

2010 may be over, but none of our services have gone away.  In other words, our community still has plenty of opportunities to partner with the SHS on behalf of cats!  

2010's Year of the Cat - In review

Special pricing on feline spay/neuter surgeries

Thanks to a generous grant from PetSmart Charities ®, the SHS was able to offer special prices for 2,010 feline spay and neuter surgeries. Spartanburg County residents paid only $15 to have their cat or kitten spayed or neutered. Income eligible pet owners paid only $5!  Learn about the good news for 2011. . .

How else did we celebrate 2010?

Neuterathon
248 male cats were neutered at our February 27th neuterathon.  That's a lot of unwanted litters prevented!  But that's just the beginning.
April showers bring May kittens
We have already seen hundreds of kittens this year and expect to see thousands more this summer. We are grateful to all the friends who participated in our kitten shower, sharing their love of cats and donating supplies for their care! Learn more... 
Cat Days of Summer - $20.10 Adoption Special
Summer is our busiest time of the year.  In June alone, 1,228 cats and kittens came to the SHS - an average of 40 a day!  We wanted our adoption lobby to be just as busy!  From July 3rd - July 11th, adopters could bring a cat into their lives for $20.10!
96 cats adopted during September special!
In September we celebrated the Year of the Cat with a second adoption special.  SHS cats and kittens were  adopted for just $20.10.  Adopters received all the same services that are part of our regular priced adoptions.   The special was a hit for 96 felines and the families who adopted them.  Happy YOTC!
Winners Declared in the SHS Cat Video Contest
In November, we celebrated the Year of the Cat with our first ever video contest! Cat lovers shared videos of their cats in action. Watch the videos. . .
Holiday Feline Adoption Special!
From December 1st - 19th, 81 cats and kittens found homes for the holidays, during our final Year of the Cat adoption special.