MASSACHUSETTS ANIMAL COALITION
SEPTEMBER 20, 2009
SHELTER OVERPOPULATION QUIZ
BY: PETER MARSH
1
(1). What is the difference in the sterilization rate of
cats living in households in the United States with annual
incomes of $35,000 or less compared to those living in
households with higher incomes (for example, if 70% of the
cats living in the lower-income households were sterilized
compared to 80% of the cats living in households with
higher incomes, the difference would be 10%)?
(A). There is no difference in sterilization rates;
(B). Low-income households are about 10% lower;
(C). Low-income households are about 20% lower;
(D). Low-income households are about 30% lower;
(E). Low-income households are about 40% lower.
2
ANSWER: 1 (E). Low-income households are about
40% lower.
PERCENTAGE OF.
CATS STERILIZED.
2007 U.S. HOUSEHOLD CAT
STERILIZATION RATES BY INCOME
GROUP
100
80
60
40
20
0
90.7
96.2
FROM $35-75K
OVER $75K
51.4
UNDER $35K
ANNUAL INCOME OF HOUSEHOLD
SOURCE: Chu K, Anderson WM & Rieser MY
(2009). Population characteristics and neuter status
of cats living in households in the United States. J.
Am.Vet. Med. Assoc. 234 (8): 1023-1030.
3
(2). Are caretakers of dogs more likely to say they
haven’t had their pet sterilized because of the cost than cat
caretakers, are cat caretakers more likely to say that than
dog caretakers, or is there no difference between the two?
(A). Dog caretakers are more likely to say cost is
a reason for not having had a pet sterilized;
(B). Cat caretakers are more likely to say cost is
a reason for not having had a pet sterilized;
(C). There is no difference between the two
groups.
4
ANSWER: 2 (B). Cat caretakers are more likely to
say cost is a reason for not having had a pet sterilized.
In a 1996 national survey, almost three times as
many caretakers with intact cats as those with intact
dogs said cost was a factor in their decision not to
have the pet sterilized. In a 1991 telephone survey of
Massachusetts pet caretakers, 22% of those with
intact cats said cost was a factor but not a single dog
caretaker.
SOURCES: New, Jr. J.C., Kelch W.J., Hutchinson J.M.,
Salman M.D., King M., Scarlett J.M., & Kass P.H. (2004). Birth
and death rate estimates of cats and dogs in U.S. households
and related factors. J. Appl. Animal Welfare Sci. 7 (4): 229241; Dorr Research Corporation (1991). Massachusetts Public
Opinion Study on Spaying and Neutering of Pets Summary.
5
(3). What percentage of litters of kittens born in U.S.
households is unplanned or unintended by the caretaker of
the mother cat?
(A). About 50% are unplanned;
(B). About 60% are unplanned;
(C). About 70% are unplanned;
(D). About 80% are unplanned.
6
ANSWER: 3 (D): About 80% are unplanned.
In a 1996 national survey, 76% of the kittens born
were unplanned or unintended by the caretakers. A
1993-1994 survey of pets in St. Joseph County
(Indiana) found that 88.9% of litters of kittens were
unplanned.
SOURCES: New, Jr. J.C., Kelch W.J., Hutchinson J.M.,
Salman M.D., King M., Scarlett J.M., & Kass P.H. (2004). Birth
and death rate estimates of cats and dogs in U.S. households
and related factors. J. Appl. Animal Welfare Sci. 7 (4): 229-241;
Patronek G.J., Beck A.M. & Glickman L.T. (1997). Dynamics of
cat and dog populations in a community. J. Am. Vet. Med.
Assoc. 210 (5): 637-642.
7
(4). If a shelter replaces a neutering deposit
adoption policy with a pre-release sterilization program, it
will likely reduce its future shelter intake rate.
(A). True.
(B). False.
8
ANSWER: 4 (A). True.
COUNTY
LOS ANGELES
ORANGE
SAN DIEGO
RIVERSIDE
SANTA CLARA
FRESNO
TOTAL
’00 INTAKE
193,190
44,200
50,798
55,947
30,114
51,963
426,203
’05 INTAKE
184,723
41,081
43,078
42,794
22,910
48,911
383,501
% CHANGE
-4.4
-7.1
-15.2
-23.5
-24.0
-5.9
-10.0
Source: California Department of Health Services. Veterinary Public
Health Section, Annual Reports of Local Rabies Control Activities. 2000;
2005.
9
(5). If a shelter replaces a neutering deposit
adoption policy with a pre-release sterilization program, it
will likely increase the rate at which the cats and dogs it
places are successfully retained in their adoptive homes.
(A). True.
(B). False.
10
ANSWER: 5 (A). True.
A pre-release sterilization program increases the
rate at which adopted pets are sterilized and a 1996
survey of twelve shelters in four regions of the country
found that sterilized dogs have one-half the risk of being
relinquished as intact dogs and sterilized cats have one
third the risk of being relinquished as intact ones.
SOURCE: New Jr. J.C., Salman M.D., King M., Scarlett J.M.,
Kass P.H., & Hutchinson J.M. (2000). Characteristics of
shelter-relinquished animals and their owners compared with
animals and their owners in U.S. pet-owning households. J.
Appl. Animal Welfare Sci. 3 (3): 179-201.
11
(6). Compared to cats that have remained
intact, to what extent is the risk of developing mammary
gland cancer reduced if a female cat is sterilized before
her first estrus?
(A). Not at all;
(B). By about 50%;
(C). By about 70%;
(D). By about 90%.
12
ANSWER: 6 (D). By about 90%.
A 2005 study found that cats sterilized
before their first estrus had 9% of the risk of
developing mammary gland cancer as that of
cats which remained intact.
SOURCE: Overly B, Shofer FS, Goldschmidt DS &
Sorenino KU (2005). Association between
ovariohysterectomy and feline mammary carcinoma.
J. Vet. Internal Med. 19: 561.
13
(7). What is the most common reason caretakers in
the U.S. cite as a reason they have not had an intact cat
sterilized?
(A). They think the procedure would cost too much;
(B). They plan to breed the cat or might possibly breed
her;
(C). They believe that a female cat would be better off by
having a litter before being sterilized.
14
ANSWER: 7 (C). They believe that a female cat would be
better off by having a litter before being sterilized.
In a 2007 national survey, 40.7 % of
caretakers who maintained an intact cat said that they
had not had the cat sterilized because they believed a
female cat would be better off having one litter before
being sterilized compared to 38.8 % who cited cost as
a factor and 20% who said they may breed the cat.
SOURCE: Chu K, Anderson WM & Rieser MY (2009). Population
characteristics and neuter status of cats living in households in the
United States. J. Am.Vet. Med. Assoc. 234 (8): 1023-1030.
15
(8). What percentage of cat and dog caretakers in
the United States believe that a female cat or dog would be
better off by having a litter before being sterilized or do not
know whether she would be better off or not?
(A). About 10%;
(B). About 30%;
(C). About 50%;
(D). About 70%.
16
ANSWER: 8 (C). About 50%;
A 1998 national survey found that 51.2% of all
dog caretakers and 49.3% of cat caretakers either
believed that a female cat or dog would benefit by
having one litter before being sterilized or did not
know whether she would benefit or not.
SOURCE: New Jr. J.C., Salman M.D., King M., Scarlett J.M., Kass
P.H., & Hutchinson J.M. (2000). Characteristics of shelterrelinquished animals and their owners compared with animals and
their owners in U.S. pet-owning households. J. Appl. Animal
Welfare Sci. 3 (3): 179-201.
17
(9). What percentage of litters of household cats and
dogs born in the United States come from mothers that are
sterilized after having had at least one litter rather than to
females that are never sterilized?
(A). About 20%;
(B). About 40%;
(C). About 60%;
(D). About 80%.
18
ANSWER: 9 (D). About 80%.
A 1991 survey of cat and dog populations in
four Massachusetts town found that cats and
dogs that remained intact accounted for 13% of all
litters of kittens and puppies while cats and dogs
that had been sterilized after having at least one
litter had given birth to 87% of the litters.
SOURCE: Manning MM & Rowan AN (1992). Companion
animal demographics and sterilization status: Results from a
survey in four Massachusetts towns. Anthrozoos 5 (3): 192201.
19
(10). Unless the rate at which sterilized cats have
litters of kittens before being sterilized is reduced from its
current level, we could sterilize 100% of all household cats
in the United States and there would still be more kittens
born in U.S. households each year than the number of
household cats who die that year.
(A). True;
(B). False.
20
ANSWER: 10 (A). True.
Data regarding the number of litters born to 3,222
female cats sterilized through a Tennessee pet sterilization
program between July of 2007 and May of 2009 showed
that on average each cat had 2.46 kittens before having
been sterilized. The percentage cats spayed through this
program that had a litter before being sterilized (24.7%)
was similar to that found in a 1991 survey of households in
Massachusetts (20%).
SOURCE: Dorr Research Corporation. (1991). MSPCA
spay/neuter survey summary. Boston: Massachusetts Society
for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals; Intake Summaries
7/07—5/09, Spay Shuttle Program, Knoxville, TN.
21
(11). What percentage of feral cats admitted to
TNR programs in the United States has previously
been sterilized?
(A). 5% or less;
(B). About 10%;
(C). 20% or more.
22
ANSWER: 11 (A). 5% or less;
Of 103,643 feral cats admitted
to seven TNR programs in the
United States from 1993 through
2004, only 2.3% were found to have
previously been sterilized.
SOURCE: Wallace JL & Levy JK (2006). Population
characteristics of feral cats admitted to seven trap-neuterreturn programs in the United States. J. Fel. Med. &
Surgery 8: 279-284.
23
(12). For a TNR program to successfully manage the
size of a feral cat population, it is usually necessary to also
manage the rate at which household cats are abandoned
by or migrate from households in the area.
(A). True;
(B). False.
24
ANSWER: 12 (A). True.
Data from TNR programs in the United
States and Italy show that abandonment of
household cats and their migration from
households can substantially increase the
size of free-roaming populations.
SOURCES: Natoli E, Maraliano L, Cariola G, Faini A, Bonanni
R, Cafazzo S & Fantini C (2006) Management of feral domestic
cats in the urban environment of Rome (Italy) Prev Vet Med 77
(3-4): 180-185; Levy JK & Crawford PC(2004) Humane
strategies for controlling feral cat populations. J. Am.Vet. Med.
Assoc. 225 (9): 1354-1360.
25
(13). Compared to the number of cats Americans
adopt from animal shelters, how many non-sheltered stray
and homeless cats do they take into their homes?
(A). They take far fewer stray cats into their
homes than the number of cats they adopt from
shelters;
(B). They take about the same number of stray
cats into their homes as the number of cats they
adopt from shelters;
(C). They take far more stray cats into their
homes than the number of cats they adopt from
shelters.
26
ANSWER: 13 (C). They take far more stray cats into
their homes than the number of cats they adopt from
shelters.
In 1996, Americans took 2,070,000 stray and
homeless cats into their homes and adopted 820,000 cats
from animal shelters. A 1984 study found that stray cats
made up made up 14.5% of all cat acquisitions in the Las
Vegas area while adoptions from local shelters made up
10.35% of all cat acquisitions.
SOURCES: Nassar R, Mosier JE & Williams LW (1994). Study of the
feline and canine populations in the Greater Las Vegas area. Am J
Vet Research 54 (2): 282-287; New, Jr. J.C., Kelch W.J., Hutchinson
J.M., Salman M.D., King M., Scarlett J.M., & Kass P.H. (2004). Birth
and death rate estimates of cats and dogs in U.S. households and
related factors. J. Appl. Animal Welfare Sci. 7 (4): 229-241.
27
(14). The progress we’ve made over the past 30
years in reducing the number of cats and dogs put to death
in U.S. animal shelters has mostly come from:
(A). An increase in the space available to
maintain homeless cats and dogs in shelters and
sanctuaries;
(B). An increase in the rate at which people
adopt cats and dogs from shelters and rescue
groups;
(C). A drop in the rate at which cats and dogs
enter animal shelters.
28
ANSWER: 14 (C). A drop in the rate at which cats and dogs
enter animal shelters.
1970-1995 CALIFORNIA ANIMAL CONTROL AGENCY
CANINE INTAKES AND EUTHANASIAS
TOTAL DOGS
900000
800000
700000
600000
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
CORRELATION
BETWEEN INTAKE AND
EUTHANASIA =.981
1970
1975
1980
INTAKES
1985
1990
1995
EUTHANASIAS
29
1970-1995 CALIFORNIA ANIMAL CONTROL AGENCY
CANINE ADOPTIONS AND EUTHANASIAS
600000
TOTAL DOGS
500000
400000
300000
200000
100000
0
CORRELATION BETWEEN
ADOPTIONS AND
EUTHANASIAS = .19
1970
1975
1980
ADOPTIONS
1985
1990
1995
EUTHANASIAS
30
(15). Which costs the least: (1). to maintain a
homeless cat or dog in a sanctuary for the rest of the
animal’s life; (2). to impound, shelter, and adopt out a
homeless cat or dog; or (3). to reduce local shelter intakes
by one cat or dog through an effective pet sterilization
subsidy program.
(A). To maintain a homeless cat or dog in a
sanctuary for the rest of the animal’s life;
(B). To impound, shelter and adopt out a homeless
cat or dog;
(C). To reduce local shelter intakes by one cat or
dog through an effective pet sterilization subsidy
program.
31
ANSWER: 15 (C). To reduce local shelter intakes by
one cat or dog through an effective pet sterilization subsidy
program.
 Assuming an average life expectancy of five years and an annual
cost of $3,000 a year to support an animal in a sanctuary, it would
cost $15,000 to maintain a cat or dog in a sanctuary for the rest of
his or her life.
 In 1998, public and private shelters in the United States spent
more than $1,400,000,000 to impound almost 7,900,000 cats and
dogs and adopted out 2,400,000 of them, an average cost of $176
per impounded animal and $583 per adopted animal.
 During the first six years that pet sterilization subsidy programs
operated in New Hampshire, 30,985 fewer cats and dogs entered
its shelters than in the six years before these programs began, an
average of less than $40 per reduced intake.
32
(16). Compared to the amount of money spent in
the United States to shelter homeless cats and dogs and
maintain them in sanctuaries, how much do we spend on
pet sterilization programs?
(A). We spend far less on pet sterilization
programs;
(B). We spend about the same amount on pet
sterilization programs;
(C). We spend far more on pet sterilization
programs.
33
ANSWER: 16 (A). We spend far less on
pet sterilization programs.
 In 1998, shelters in the United States spent more than
$1,400,000,000 to impound and shelter homeless
animals.
 In 2006, shelters and rescue groups helped sterilize
2,112,000 cats and dogs. At an average subsidy cost of
$100 per surgery, this would have cost $211,200.000 or
about one-seventh of the amount spent on sheltering and
impoundment in 1998.
SOURCES: Wenstrup J. & Dowidchuk A. (1999). Pet
overpopulation: data and measurement issues in shelters.
J.Appl. Animal Welfare Sci. 2 (4): 303-319; Briggs J (2006).
Analysis of the Annual Spay/Neuter Surgeries in the United
States, Proceedings of the Third International Symposium on
Non Surgical Sterilization.
34
In the decade before 1993, no pet sterilization
program in New Hampshire was affordable for
indigent pet caretakers. During this period, shelter
intake rates did not change much from year to year.
N.H. SHELTER INTAKES '83-93
25,000
20,000
15,000
10,000
5,000
0
83 84 85 86 87 88 89 90 91 92 93
CAT INTAKES EXCEPT RECLAIMS
DOG INTAKES EXCEPT RECLAIMS
35
During the first six years after an affordable pet
sterilization subsidy program was established in 1994,
shelter euthanasias in New Hampshire dropped by more
than 75%.
NEW HAMPSHIRE SHELTER EUTHANASIAS 19832008
15000
10000
5000
07
05
03
01
99
97
95
93
91
89
87
85
83
0
DOG AND CAT EUTHANASIAS
36
GUIDING
PRINCIPLE:
THE
MOST
EFFECTIVE
SHELTER
OVERPOPULATION
PROGRAMS ARE BASED ON INFORMATION
FROM RESEARCH STUDIES AND LOCAL
SHELTER STATISTICS.
PERSIAN PROVERB:
UNLESS MOVED BY OUR HEART, WE
ARE LAME.
UNLESS GUIDED BY OUR HEAD, WE
ARE BLIND.
37