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December 2, 2008 6:49:50 AM CST

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Fertile Felines May Require New Laws

Posted Apr 17, 08 3:00 PM CDT in US 

(Newser) – America’s wandering cat population is growing—and if communities don’t address the issue, their numbers could spiral to alarming heights, LiveScience reports. As it stands, there’s a cat for every 3.5 Americans, and reproducing roamers contribute to the 5 million cats euthanized yearly. Cities may need to follow Los Angeles’ lead: The city now requires all cats and dogs be “fixed” soon after birth.

“If we don't change something, we're going to continue to lose this battle” against overpopulation, says a veterinary expert. She surveyed Ohioans on their interactions with felines, and found that about a third of respondents saw roving felines daily. Over half supported spay-neuter laws, which the researcher encourages, though “it gets very emotional,” she says.

Source LiveScience

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In this Friday, Aug. 3, 2007 file photograph, feral cats at Douglas Memorial Park in Cape May, N.J., gather for mealtime. Volunteers, including Timothy John Albert of North Cape May, left, and Dick Quinn...   (AP Photo/David Gard,file)
This undated photo provided by the Humane Society of Vero Beach shows Dottie the cat laying on a scratching post at the Humane Society of Vero Beach, Thursday, Feb. 28, 2008, in Vero Beach, Fla.   (AP Photo/Humane Society of Vero Beach, Janet Winikoff)
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