Is It Illegal to Abandon a Cat at a Shelter? Laws & FAQ
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Most cat owners do their best to care for their feline companions, but there are some instances where people are not fully equipped for every possible scenario when owning a cat. Keeping a cat is a big responsibility that not everybody can handle. So, the best thing you can do when you can’t take good care of your cat is rehome them to someone else or a shelter.
Abandoning a cat at a shelter is not illegal. This article will give you more helpful information regarding this topic.
Common Reasons Why People Abandon Cats
For most cat owners, it is almost unimaginable to rehome their cat, but there are some instances when it’s necessary. People may leave their cats at a shelter when they don’t have enough time to care for them properly. We also see people who abandon their cats because of behavioral issues with the cat and other pets or for financial reasons. It is also common for mother cats to get abandoned when they have a litter or even when they are pregnant.
Is It Illegal to Abandon a Cat?
Just abandoning your cat is one of the worst things you can do as a cat owner. Your cat is used to someone taking care of them, and you can only imagine how traumatized they will be if left alone. Abandoning your pet is illegal in nearly all 50 states in the US1, and it is considered animal abuse. In some states, you’ll need to pay a fine or even go to prison if they catch you abandoning your pet. There are many ways to rehome your cat safely, with a shelter or someone else, so there is no need to abandon it.
Is It Illegal to Abandon a Cat in a Shelter?
Abandoning your cat to a shelter is not illegal; it is actually a good way to rehome a cat. However, you must contact the shelter beforehand to ensure that it is a no-kill shelter and that your cat will have proper care. Also, you must understand their adoption policies and the nurturing support your cat will receive. The problem with shelters is that they have a time limit, which means that in some shelters, animals get euthanized if they stay in the shelter for too long. This is because shelters become overcrowded with animals, and there is no space left for new ones to come. This is why the shelter you abandon your cat in must be a no-kill shelter.
Rehoming a Cat
Finding a new home for your cat is the best thing you can do for them if you can’t take care of them anymore. This is the only way you get in direct contact with the new owners of the cat, and some of them will even let you see them occasionally. Some people rehome their cat to their close friends or even family members because they trust them the most. Rehoming your cat to a stranger is always a risk, but you can always charge a fee to make sure they’re serious about owning a new pet. When rehoming a cat, you should always look for someone with experience in keeping pets, and we suggest that you ask them all the crucial questions for the cat’s well-being.
Final Thoughts
We all know that keeping cats can be time and energy-consuming, and for most cat owners, that is not a problem, but for some people who work a lot or have other obligations, it is. With that said, if you are not taking proper care of your cat, sometimes it is best to rehome them to someone with the time and knowledge to take the best care of them. The proper way is to rehome your cat or leave your cat at a shelter you did research on beforehand.
Featured Image Credit: kimberrywood, Shutterstock
