Into the Shadows: Welcome to the World of Unwanted Pets
Four feral cat colony caregivers and one veterinarian. Meet the women who care for the unwanted pet population in the GTA.
Feral Cats
The unwanted pet population
Feral cats are hidden in the shadows of society, often unseen by people.
These cats are wild, undersocialized cats that live solely outside. They can form colonies, or a group of cats, similar to how wolves live in packs. However, while wolves need other wolves for survival, feral cat colonies are still a bit of a mystery. Feral cats are solitary hunters, whether they live in colonies or alone. According to National Geographic, scientists still have yet to figure out the complex social behaviour of feral cats.
17,000+
Toronto Humane Society estimates that there are approximately 17,000 feral cats in Toronto.
7281
Humane Canada reports 7,281 cats were euthanized across shelters and humane societites in 2021.
60%
Euthanasia due to homelessness is the largest cause of death in cats, says Toronto Humane Society. According to Humane Canada, 60% of cats were euthanized due to pet overpopulation crisis in 2021.
Feral Cat Colony Caregiver #1
Dive into Claire Whitham's story
Claire Whitham is the purr-fect caregiver. Click the button to learn how Whitham goes above and beyond to care for community cats.
Rexdale Community Caregivers
Rescuers Save Trapped Kitty
After meows are heard inside of a locked shipping container, rescuers must act fast to save a trapped kitty.
Veterinarian
The SNYP Truck
Learn how one truck is curbing the overpopulation crisis one spay and neuter at a time.
