A coalition of Guelph groups working with Nature Canada’s Keep Cats Safe & Save Bird Lives campaign are calling on the community to help keep both safe by keeping cats from roaming outdoors unsupervised.

Click here to read our March 2018 Open Letter to the community of Guelph.

The group represents a unique local coalition of cat-care and nature organizations speaking with a unified voice; the Guelph Humane Society, the Guelph Cat Population Task Force, Nature Guelph, Wild Ontario, Songbird Only Avian Rehabilitation, Wild Birds Unlimited and Nature Canada, the oldest conservation charity in Canada.

“Many people vastly overestimate the ability of cats to survive life outdoors on their own,” said Dr. Shane Bateman, member of the board of the Guelph Humane Society and a driving force behind the Guelph Cat Population Task Force, “and we have an environmental responsibility to protect our bird populations. This initiative is exciting because it offers an opportunity to inform the public about the risks to both cats and birds.”

“While cats’ independent natures might lead some people to leave them outside unsupervised, we owe them the same level of care we give our dogs,” said Eleanor Fast, Executive Director for Nature Canada. “Keeping a cat from roaming unsupervised, providing safe outdoor options or sufficient stimulation indoors, is what they deserve. Therefore, we are challenging Guelph cat owners to join Nature Canada and the local coalition in support of protecting both cats and birds.”

This initiative is part of a larger awareness campaign that includes presentations and displays, advertising, community outreach and various other activities in Guelph. Keep an eye on this page to stay abreast of our plans as they develop.

If you’re interested in getting involved as a volunteer, email us at info@catsandbirds.ca.

More information about Cats & Birds in Guelph
To learn more about how to Keep Cats Safe and Save Bird Lives, explore this site or check out some resources:

Harness Training Your Cat

Tips for Transitioning

Safe Happy Cat

Dealing with Escape Artists

Cat Enclosures & Catios

 

Download our Guelph Cats & Birds poster here: acb-guelph-poster-2

For information on other issues for birds, such as window strikes, visit Nature Canada’s Save Bird Lives site to learn what you can do to help.

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