Have you ever wondered how many cats there are in the world? On the street it is common to hear people say that there are many, but how many are those "many"? Unfortunately, it is impossible to know exactly, so we have no choice but to rely on estimates.
I can tell you that this figure is incredibly high. So much so that it should serve to raise awareness about responsible pet ownership.
600 million cats
That is the estimate of the Ecology Global Network. In the world it is estimated that there are 600 million little cats, domestic, stray and abandoned. The felis catus It is the most successful feline: thanks to its predatory instinct, it has kept the rodent population at bay, something that humans have seen with good eyes. Now there are many individuals who do not have access to the street, but they are so adorable, affectionate and, ultimately, such good friends that more and more are the lucky ones who find a safe place to live together with us.
Unfortunately, there are people who do not treat cats with respect. Many of these animals end up living on the streets, or, if they are lucky, in a shelter. In the specific case of Spain, only in 2015 137.000 dogs and cats were abandoned. Although that number is probably much higher.
There are no people for so many cats
We have to be aware of this. Not everyone likes cats, and not everyone who lives with cats can have more. It is always much better to adopt an animal from a shelter than to buy it, why? Obviously everyone deserves the chance to be happy, but keep in mind that the sale of purebred animals is often just that, a business (I'm not talking about those breeders who protect the breeds, but about the "puppy mills"). There are cats that are used only for breeding. So that a few humans take a lot of money in exchange for the effort and exhaustion of these animals.
Cats that live in shelters, instead, They may not be purebred, but they haven't had an easy life. Just look at the ones in the cities: every day they must do the impossible to find food, avoiding those people who hurt them and staying away from cars. At least in these centers, if they are professionals, they will feed them and find a family for them, but not just any one, but one in which they know that they will always be fine and not just for a few months.
A cat is not a fad. If you don't intend to breed him, have him neutered or spayed. This will help you to have a longer and happier life.