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Caged Cats of America

by Michael
(London, UK)

This is about the caged cats of America. It is news to me and news generally (in one indirect way) in that I was prompted to look into it by a story I read regarding dogs. The director of Iowa Voters for Companion Animals, Mary LaHay, was explaining the poor conditions under which dogs are breed by puppy mill owners in the USA during a meeting at the Humane Society of North Iowa. She was heckled by dog breeders.

On the Iowa Voters for Companion Animals website, there is reference to the laws and regulations regarding minimum standards of husbandry in the USA under federal companion animal welfare law, the Animal Welfare Act and Animal Welfare Regulations, which are the requirements that USDA commercial dog breeders are required to apply.

It got me thinking, "what about cats?". There are kitten mills too. What are the minimum standards in respect of the cages that a cat breeder selling 25 or more cats per year, which were born and raised on his or her premises or who maintains a total of four or more breeding female cats, has to apply? These are the cat enclosures (outdoors a lot of the time) where cats live.

The picture below shows the minimum space requirement of a cage under these regulations:

cat in a breeding cage shown in a diagram the cage is very small


In words:

Prior to February 15, 1994 each cat housed in any primary enclosure shall be provided a minimum of 2\1/2\ square feet of floor space;(ii) On and after February 15, 1994:(A) Each primary enclosure housing cats must be at least 24 in. high (60.96cm);

Cats that are over 8.8 lbs in weight have more ceiling space as I read the regulations but the floor space remains the same (wrong? - please leave a comment). Actually the regulations in places are badly worded I think so are not as clear as they might be.

The full regulations are here. They cover all aspects.

So what do I think? Horror basically. Is this the USA in the 21st century or Asia last century(sorry Asia but your record of animal husbandry is not good)? Caged Cats of America is an apt description if breeders of large numbers of cats stick to the minimum standards. This is the kind of cruelty perpetrated by the cat declawing veterinarians.

From Caged Cats of America to Cat News

Photo of cat inside cage: published under a creative commons license - Attribution 2.0 Generic - photo by sasha {fujin}

Comments for
Caged Cats of America

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Nov 19, 2009
 caged cats
by: kathy

I too was at a Bengal breeder who had her cats caged in cages that were too small. Many people tend to loose sight of the fact that animals are living breathing feeling creatures that too have emotion. My friend just related to me that her dog was sick and the other dog was sick with worry. My cat always knows what mood im in or whether I feel good or bad. One time I saw a stripped squirrel run out into the road to shake the body of another one who had just been hit by a car. I was very moved by this behavior. I also saw a squirrel try to free another one who was in a trap. Its sad that today humans only see animals as to how they can benefit from them.
Nov 19, 2009
 Caged Cats
by: Gail (Boston, MA USA)

To say the U.S.A. presents a disgraceful front on how animals are treated would take me longer than I have breath!

Over the years, it's impossible to tell you how many heated encounters I've had with shops about how their cats are treated. (Although this is a cat forum, the same principle applies to all animals - dogs, birds, mice, etc.)

From cramped conditions to no food/water/bedding to even the filth exhibited in pet shops, never mind the breeders. Something even as simple as cleaning the cage of feces and using cages that don't have wire bottoms/sides to them... It is heart-breaking. Sometimes we wonder who really are the animals?
Nov 19, 2009
 Breeding For Show Gone Bad
by: Anonymous

A few years ago I was looking for a kitten. I picked up a copy of Kittens Magazine, and was smitten by the pictures of the beautifuly wild looking Bengals. One of the Cattery's was nearby, so off I went to purchase my kitten.
I was first taken by the breeder to a very nice enclosure which was attached to his house, and there in a tiny cubicle was a beautiful large male Bengal, he was a Supreme Grand Champion. He had no toys, or bed....nothing except this 2.5 X 2.5 cubicle. The breeder mentioned that other breeders felt his area was too small, but he assured me it was fine, and the cat was comfortable. I guess that depends on your definition of comfort.
A couple of years later, no doubt related to the recession, I saw an ad in the newspaper, he was selling his cats for $50.00 just remember to bring your carrier, he said in the ad.
I have never forgotten that beautiful boy, and hope he is now in a home where he can be loved, and lounge on the sofa, instead of that lonely cubicle.

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