Last week I discussed puppy mills, those horrible places where dogs are incarcerated and forced to produce litter after litter for the satisfaction of a greedy human who cares nothing about their health or welfare. We all know they exist, we all hate them, and we all want the suffering stopped. But were you aware that kitten mills also exist?
Cats like these spend their entire lives in crates.
The media has given puppy mills at least enough attention to make the phrase a commonplace euphemism for “bad puppy breeder,” but little attention has been given to kitten mills. The truth is, any type of animal can be milled, and any time people are willing to financially support these mills, there will always be more that crop up and more that win the battles that try to shut them down. Due to a lack of public attention, many former puppy mill breeders have switched gears, and now offer a multitude of cats to the public as well as private organizations without concern for the drastic over–breeding of the animal, the conditions it lives in, or its fate once the kitten leaves their property.
Kitten mills are of course just another example of humanity’s supreme reign over the animal kingdom, we have the power to torture for profit, and thus we do. However, when enough people bond together in an effort to limit or minimize this form of torture, something can be done to prevent the ongoing abuse. While these kitten breeders tend to focus highly on the over—production of “purebred” cats, the truth is that the vast majority of cat owners do not know the difference between most breeds of cats, notwithstanding the most obvious types; Siamese, Himalayan, and the like.
A few startling statistics for the cat world can really shake up our perception of the need for anyone anywhere to breed cats at all, let alone in vast quantities. According to the Humane League of the United States, most cats are adopted via a casual rescue effort. About 48% of human owned cats are taken in as strays, or found by someone who gives the kitten or cat to a friend, or is adopted directly from a rescue league. A much smaller percentage, 14%, adopts their cats from shelters, especially high kill shelters. The remaining percentage goes directly to either breeders or pet stores. However, with all this kitty purchasing going on, 71% of all cats or kittens that find themselves in the unfortunate position of being in a shelter are euthanized before suitable homes can be found. Only one out of every five kittens and cats are destined to live in one home for their lifetime. Most cats find themselves abandoned or left on the shelter doorstep when they are either too much responsibility or lose their cute little kitten appeal.
So, we already know that pet overpopulation is a big problem in this country, and many other countries. Yet, really, what would keep a cat breeder of one hundred and fifty kittens in business. Unfortunately, what doesn’t make it out into the public as a birthday present for a loved one or as a new companion for a home with love to spare, end up being sold in bulk to laboratories and other testing facilities. This statistic alone makes someone like me want to run out and purchase two or three of the kittens I could give good homes to in order to prevent those few a treacherous life of abuse and neglect. However, once I give the kitten mill a single dime from my own pocket, I am giving them my business. And the business of abuse is not one that my dollar, nor anyone else’s who claims to have even a shred of love and compassion in their hearts, should support.
So perhaps you are reading this and you are enraged and affected and you think the human race needs to be taught a great big lesson in compassion and responsible and ethical behavior toward all living creatures. You would be right. But when this article is finished, are you going to stop reading, tell a few important people in your life what horrid things we do to the innocent for a quick and easy buck, and then resume your daily business? Or do you think you might be affected enough to take on a little action?
You have probably just learned something you did not already know. The focus for years has been on puppy mills. Kitten mills fall through the cracks, because people don’t see cats as a commodity in the same way they view puppies. Both so called “business operations” abuse animals, both must be stopped, so why is the focus always on puppy mills? Kitten mills are easier to hide, cats don’t make as much noise as dogs, a dogs bark is louder than a cats meow. People are unaware that kitten mills exist, therefore when they fight such abuse they focus on the problem they know about, puppies.
So today I give you a challenge. You are going to surf the net today anyway aren’t you? That is probably how you ended up here reading this. So now I challenge you to find any information you can on the subject of kitten mills. Inform yourself, share that information with a friend and then decide how you will take action. Will you start a petition? Join your local shelter’s volunteer list? Speak to your senator or MPP? Or will you shake your head and say oh that’s terrible, and move on to the next article? What will you do with the information you now possess? The ball is in your court, will you step up and try to make a difference?
Until Tomorrow Remember.
BE THE CHANGE
Janette
10 Comments to “Kitten Mills are Overlooked in the Fight Against Abuse”
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Sheila White says:
I will be sharing, as this is so well written and to the point. I hope people will read it. Being a cat rescuer, I was aware of this, but you are right. There is SO much publicity about puppy mills and very little about kitten mills.
Rose Marie Zizzo, Stop Inhumane Cat Breeding says:
CFA Needs Be Held “Legally Liable” For Their CFA Breeders That Commit Crimes Against Pedigreed Cats
CFA is a cat registry, the largest cat registry in the world, has employees, makes a profit, is a legal corporation and promotes cat breeding worldwide. In promoting cat breeding that creates agony & suffering for the pedigreed cats under the ultimate care of their owners, the CFA registered cat breeders.
VIEW CAT HORROR IMAGES http://sicb.info/judithlawson.html
There is no doubt about it registered cat breeders have terrible reputations worldwide. The horror stories hit the major cities, nationally and even worldwide. The horror stories of pedigree cat abuse, neglect, cruelty, hoarding & rescuers is beyond belief & comprehension. It truly makes the good cat breeders who are doing the right thing look terribly bad and tarnish all cat breeders as bad. The crimes are done by the very caretakers who is suppose to love and care for them the HERE
The government is really under alot of pressure due to the amount of cruelty done against all animals in general, especially with the new crush videos that are being exposed. Along with Animal Welfare Laws Tighting & local governement under pressure officials may just make CFA and all cat & dog registeries “legally liable” for their own breeders crimes against their cats/dogs..
Cat Fanciers Ass., Inc [CFA] needs to place their money where their mouths is. “If” CFA is against pedigree cat abuse then do something to show the public & your sponsors you are serious about your CFA cat breeders commiting horrific crimes against pedigreed cats. Because if you do not the local officials may just make you, CFA corporation “legally liable” for the crimes your own breeders commit against their own cats.
As it stand right now CFA is getting away with murder. How? When one of their paid registered cat breeders commit a crime against their own cats, CFA places their name on a meaningless list and wrings their hands and says, “that breeder is banned from CFA privileged services”. That is too easy for you CFA. You need to stand up to the plate and come up with very serious consequences for your CFA breeders harming our pedigree cats that God made. God made these cats to love not to harm like so many of your CFA breeders have done.
Perhaps the time has arrived where CFA needs to re-examine their procedures & consider getting Legal Liability Insurance protecting CFA against their own CFA registered breeders commiting crimes against pedigreed cats.
To read more inside information about Cat Fanciers Association. Inc [CFA] to here:
CFA Index 1 http://sicb.info/cfaindex1.html
CFA Index 2 http://sicb.info/cfaindex2.html
Complaints Against Cat Breeders http://ca-catbreeders.info
Rose Marie Zizzo Complaints Against Cat Breeders says:
Cat Breeding Pratices “Caging” Compromises Cats Health
May 2010
Author: Rose Marie Zizzo
Any cat breeding practices that places pedigree cats into cages 24-7 dramatically interfers with the health of that cat or cats. It is not natural nor normal for a cat to be placed into a cage all day long. A cat needs to exercise & act like a cat.
Imagine spending your whole life caged in a space so small you couldn’t move your arms or turn around. That’s the sad life of all of our pedigree cats that are used for breeding world wide. Pedigreed felines are frequently confined in spaces so small they can’t live their natural way of life walking on all 4 paws. These unnatural practices compromise their immune systems, so to keep the cat appearing healthy they are pumped full of antibiotics, damaging the integrity of the felines entire health.
These unnatural practices of caging pedigree felines are promoted by the cat fancy community that are involved with breeding of pedigree cats. Cat breeding practices promotes illness in felines that otherwise would not occur if feline was to be free all day long to roam in owners home.
To prove what I am saying is, lets place a cat breeder in a cage with just enough room to sit, walk a few steps and do a bowel movement & eat. If it is unhealthy for a human cat breeder it is certainly unhealthy for a feline cat.
Do you wonder why you read so many complaints from buyers of pedigree cats always complaining they “bought a sick cat”? When the consumer goes to the cat breeders home to buy the cat or kitten the cat looks fine. The reason is the cat breeder has the feline on high dosages of antibiotics. The problems come after the kitten gets to its new home. Within 24 hours or less the cat will be showing its illness signs that were supressed by those large dosages of antibiotics given by the cat breeder. The kitten was sick before the consumer purchased this cat. The antibiotics just doctored it up to fool the buyer and so the sale can be made.
CFA & all the other cat registries profess they care about the welfare of felines everywhere. That is a ruse. These cat registries and the entire cat breeding community have absolutely no interest in the welfare of cats. There only interest and passion is to fill their pockets with money they get from the sales of their cats. And continue to attend cat shows to win those covetous ribbons to feed their insatiable egos that their cats are the “best”.
And for those show cat exhibitors who say they they dont make any money selling kittens. They will say they come out even because of all the expense just running a cattery. They insist on spending all that money to have that cattery. Because they all have to outdo each other. Dont every belive they dont make any money. They make plenty of hard cash. But they make most of their money once their cat/kitten gets its covet title of Champion or Grand Champion etc. Then they can sell the kittens for outragous prices in the thousands to other cat breeders & newbies that want to become breeders.
Also view: STOP Inhumand Cat Breeding http://sicb.info
Diane Symons says:
Terrible what our babies go through yet they would love us forever. Kitten mills are just as bad maybe worse than puppy mills we must think of our cats to. Without cats we would have allot of disease cats keep rodents down they are needed in so many ways … to be loved… for company….playing with and loving them… and letting them hunt inside cats are very important they keep rodents from your home that carry diseases. A rat will chew off your childs fingers in his or hers sleep so remember our cats are here for a good reason many reasons we must care for them. My cat Stanley lived 23 years that was 23 years of unconditional love.
Janette Hamilton says:
Our cats live a long time as well Diane we lost one this past summer at the age of 19 and one in the spring who was 21. I believe they lived that long because they were well loved and cared for. They brought us endless hours of companionship and love to our home, ane we miss them dearly despite the fact that there are still six of them. Each time one has lived out their life and moves on to the rainbow bridge we remember them always in our hearts for there will be other cats but never ones just like them.
Irish Cornaire says:
I am an avid cat lover and knowing there are kitten mills out there put a burr right up my arse,every winter I am feeding and caring for stray kittens and trying so hard to keep them alive and when I know there are breeders out there making $ off the expense of these kittens I just want to put my hands around their heads and squeeze their brains out,grrrr!
Janette Hamilton says:
I know! Right? It isn’t bad enough we have puppy mill owners to battle now we must find these kitten mills and shut them down too! The cruelty man is capable of never fails to amaze me, really!
Kat says:
Even though I’m only a younger teenager, I understand and agree fully with you. no animal should have to suffer like that. although I don’t own a cat, I have a golden retriever my parents got from a farm and used to own another one from petland (died), but I try to influence my friends and neighbours to adopt their pets from a local animal shelter instead of buying a “purebred” from a commercial pet store because of the horrible conditions of puppy and kitten mills, I just want to put mill owners in small cages and force them to live in squallier conditions like the poor animals…oh and by the way, may I use some of the information from this for a project? I won’t copy it word for word
Janette Hamilton says:
You are more than welcome to use anything you need!
Kat says:
Danke Janette, it’ll help a lot :3