The BC SPCA takes in more than 10,000 stray cats and kittens a year, but only about 10 per cent are redeemed by their guardians.

Sadly, most do not have any identification that would help reunite them with their original guardians and, after a holding period, are instead placed up for adoption and rehomed with new families.

By contrast, 65 per cent of dog guardians redeemed their animals.

Without identification, it’s extremely difficult to connect a stray cat to his or her guardian.

Community relations GM Lorie Chortyk tells the Province newspaper that in those instances, shelters do their best to match the stray animals they take in with the descriptions of lost pets, or hope that the guardian pays a visit in person to see if the missing animal is at the shelter.

“Proper, up to date identification is the most effective way to ensure your pet is returned to you,” she says.

The BC SPCA is currently conducting a research project into the root causes of pet overpopulation with a particular focus on stray, abandoned, feral and homeless cats. Preliminary findings point to the need for all cat guardians to spay/neuter and ID their pets.

“We’d like to declare 2011 the Year of the Cat and see a lot of these problems addressed,” says Chortyk.

Your support of the Monty Fund for Community Education & Outreach helps the BC SPCA conduct valuable research, carry out advocacy campaigns and provide educational programming in communities. Please donate today.

Photo caption: Putting proper ID on your cat is the best way to ensure he returns home if he gets lost.

The BC SPCA is a non-profit organization funded primarily by public donations. Our mission is to prevent cruelty and to promote the welfare of animals through a wide range of services, including cruelty investigations, emergency rescue and treatment, sheltering and adoption of homeless and abused animals, humane education, advocacy, farm animal welfare, spay/neuter programs, and wildlife rescue and rehabilitation.