Dear community members,
We’ve launched a quick and easy way for you to help us understand where outdoor cats are most prevalent.
Whether stray cats, feral colonies, or any other cats wandering freely in your neighbourhood, we’d be grateful if you could participate in this survey and share what you see! The information you provide will only be used for research purposes — no cats will be trapped or removed from identified locations. Your survey responses are anonymous, and you’ll only need to provide the first three digits of the postal code where you spotted the cats.
Why participate in this survey?
In 2017, the Canadian Federation of Humane Societies highlighted a significant cat overpopulation problem in Canada. We know cats are common, but we lack reliable local information on how many cats roam our streets and where they go. Unsupervised outdoor cats face numerous risks, including traffic accidents, local predators, diseases, toxins, unwanted pregnancies and the chance of getting lost. This poses a serious welfare issue for cats, making it difficult to provide the necessary help.
Roaming cats also have a considerable impact on local wildlife. They are a leading cause of bird mortality in Canada and prey on native species such as songbirds, bats, squirrels, reptiles, and insects. By understanding the distribution and abundance of outdoor cats, we can better inform wildlife conservation efforts and prioritize protecting native species at risk.
Your input is invaluable. It helps us create a safer environment for cats, other animals, and people. By sharing your sightings, you contribute to important research that helps safeguard cats and local wildlife.
Thank you for taking the time to participate and contribute to a brighter, safer community for all of us!
