The Winn Feline Foundation reminds cat owners to microchip and enroll their cats in the HomeAgain Proactive Pet Recovery Network. HomeAgain has pledged to donate $1 toward feline health research for every new cat microchipped and enrolled in HomeAgain though the end of August. In June, over 15,000 new cats have been enrolled, and in July over 18,000. Still, many more cats could benefit from microchipping, as only 20% of the total membership in HomeAgain (over 6 million total pets) are feline, despite the fact that about 20% more cats are kept as companion pets than dogs.
“”HomeAgain knows that, in our database, cats are underrepresented in comparison to the number of lost and found cat reports we receive,”” says Steve Shell, vice-president and general Manager of HomeAgain. “”Unfortunately, cats who land in shelters without an ID are unlikely to be recovered.””
Dr. Susan Little, a veterinarian specializing in cats, and president of the Winn Feline Foundation says, “”Many people believe indoor-only cats will never get outside, but sadly, this is not true. Permanent identification is the only guarantee that a beloved cat will return home in case of tornado, hurricane, wildfire, flood, or an open door.””
The Winn Feline Foundation, a non-profit organization established 40 years ago by the Cat Fanciers’ Association to promote the health and welfare of cats through education and research, has funded important research benefiting both veterinarians and cat owners. HomeAgain, founded in 1995, has been a leader in companion animal identification and lost pet recovery. With HomeAgain, a lost pet is successfully recovered approximately every six minutes.
For more information about Winn Feline Foundation and cat health, please visit www.winnfelinehealth.org. Learn more about HomeAgain and its pet recovery program, please visit www.homeagain.com.