The Pet Owners Corner

December 23, 2025

Dear Cattalker: In our area, a new law was passed to prohibit breeding cats. They said it will dramatically reduce the number of outdoor cats. I cannot see how that can work, as I see no cats like those at shows running loose outdoors. Can you explain how that will work please? Gretchen K.

Dear Gretchen: I wish I could explain how banning the breeding of pedigreed cats will reduce the outdoor population, but I cannot because in my opinion it does not reduce these populations.

First of all, responsible breeders do not let cats go outside. Pedigreed cat breeders  microchip their cats, so if they become lost, they can be returned. People who pay for a pedigreed cat are very, very unlikely to allow the cat to roam free unsupervised.

Secondly, responsible breeders place pets that are already spayed and neutered, or include in their sales contract timely neuter/spay procedures, so they will not be contributing to the feral population.

The cats that are living outdoors most often are domestic brown tabbies, black and white tuxedos, blue (gray) tabbies, and a few reds. You do not see Persians, Siamese, Sphynx, Exotics or any other pedigreed cats. These outdoor cats are there due to no fault of their own: someone dumped intact cats outside and they mated and produced kittens. Cats, unlike birds, will mate with any other cat. You will not see cardinals and robins mating, as they are species-specific, so their individuality remains intact. This is not true in cats. Thus, by banning breeders there will eventually be no distinct breeds of cats, creating a huge loss of so many gorgeous breeds.

The way to reduce outdoor populations is by Trap, Neuter and Release (TNR). Trapping the cat, having it neutered/spayed, vaccinated, and its ear tipped stops more kittens from entering the world. Since the life expectancy of an outdoor cat is 2 to 3 years, very soon the population should dwindle to zero.

It takes a village to accomplish this. Neighborhoods need to trap and neuter.

It is a fallacy that feeding outdoor cats is wrong. Feeding them keeps them healthy, less likely to hunt, and helps them in their time of need. Providing shelter in the winter is also important.

These simple steps will reduce the outdoor population rapidly and safely. In essence, banning breeding  has NOTHING to do with reducing the population of outdoor cats.

In a world when we can be anything we want, be kind … Kind to animals that through no fault of their own end up outside and alone.

 

Pet Owners Corner is designed to answer common questions that pet owners may have. Answers will be simple and straight forward. No questions are too silly to ask; if you have that question, others probably do as well. No medical advice will be given because diagnosing and treating is not possible without a proper veterinary examination.

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