Guelph Humane Society urges residents to keep cats indoors after rise in deaths

Professor, a one-year-old cat in the care of the Guelph Humane Society since late January after being struck by a vehicle. She is recovering from her injuries and will undergo a leg amputation surgery once she is strong enough. (Courtesy: Samantha Westphal/Guelph Humane Society)

The Guelph Humane Society is urging residents to keep their cats indoors following a recent increase in deceased cats found throughout the community.

The organization said its team has responded to six calls involving cats found dead outdoors in the past two weeks, marking a significant increase over the same period last year.

While the causes vary, the humane society said incidents can include vehicle strikes, wildlife encounters, extreme weather, illness and disease transmission from other animals.

In each case, the cats had been roaming outside alone.

“Our goal is not to alarm the community, but to prevent further heartbreak,” Katherine Leonard, the senior manager of community services said in a media release. “By working together and keeping cats safe at home, we can reduce these tragic outcomes.

The humane society also noted that free-roaming cats can have a substantial impact on songbird and small mammal populations, citing Humane Canada.

Officials are encouraging pet owners to consider alternatives to free-roaming, such as:

• Provide ways to stay active indoors, including climbing structures, scratching posts, window perches and interactive toys.
• Consider leash and harness training to allow supervised outdoor time.
• Install secure outdoor enclosures, often called catios, to provide enrichment and fresh air.
• Ensure cats are microchipped and wear visible identification in case they escape.

Residents who encounter a stray, injured or deceased animal are asked to contact the Guelph Humane Society at 519-824-3091.