This is Harley. He is a sweet little guy about 1-1/2 years old.
To all my critter friends and friends of critters...
Harley is one of three stray/feral cats I try to care for. I provide fresh water and food for him.
I am working on getting him his own shelter, but until then he is currently staying in an old bus. He has an old cat bed and some blankets to snuggle in during the cold nights we have been having recently.
I am trying to raise some funds to help get Harley some medical attention. There are 3 things I am hoping to provide for him...
1. Testing for FIV & FeLV (see below)
2. Vaccinations
3. Neutering to stop any territorial male stuff, as well as mating, which will in turn stop producing any unwanted litters.
Cat overpopulation is a big problem many urban, suburban and rural areas are trying to cope with. Another issue many are trying to cope with is the spread of feline diseases, which can be highly contagious and sometimes deadly. Some of these deadly diseases are transmitted through territorial males fighting.
If we can prevent the mating of males & females, we can put a stop to unwanted litters of kittens. According to the ASPCA, 5-7 million companion animals enter shelters each year. Of these, 3-4 million are euthanized. Approximately, 70% of all cats/kittens relinquished by owners or picked up by animal control are euthanized, which means 7 out of 10 cats/kittens are euthanized. Of course, the percentage is a nationwide percentage and may vary by actual location. According to the National Council on Pet Population Study and Policy (NCPPSP) less than 2% of cats are reunited with their owners. In addition, only about 10% of the animals received by shelters are spayed or neutered. It has been estimated there are up to 70 million stray cats nationwide. A cat can have, on average, 1-2 litters per year of about 4-6 kittens.
Neutering the male is half the battle of trying to control these numbers.
An un-neutered male also becomes territorial, as he searches for a female to mate with. These un-neutered males will fight when they come in contact with each other, be it trespassing into another's territory or for the mating rights with a female in the area. This fighting brings on illness and transfers highly contagious diseases from one male to another.
Two of these highly contagious diseases are deadly...
1. FIV or Feline Immunodeficiency Virus, which is the feline equivalent of HIV. FIV, like HIV, can become AIDS, in this case known as Feline AIDS.
2. FeLV or Feline Leukemia Virus, which can lead to other ailments such as lymphoma - a cancer of the lymph system.
Harley & I appreciate any help anyone can offer.
Thanks for all your help and God bless!
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