Educating cat owners

According to the American Pet Products Manufacturers Association (APPMA) 2005/2006 National Pet Owners Survey, a record 90.5 million cats are owned in the United States.(1) Although cat ownership has increased, an estimated 97,000 cats are euthanized annually in clinics because of behavior problems.(2) Most cats that enter shelters are between 6 months and 3 years of age and have lost their homes because they displayed behaviors (e.g., not using the litterbox, destroying furniture) that their owners perceived as unacceptable.(3) By educating cat owners on how to effectively handle these behaviors, technicians can help prevent pets from losing their homes.