Our Mission
Ironbound Cats' mission is to keep cats in their loving homes, reducing shelter intake and euthanasia rates.
Too many animals are being abandoned simply because families can't afford basic necessities like pet food and spay/neuter services.
Every year an estimated 1.5 million cats are euthanized in shelters across the U.S. Many are surrendered or abandoned due to behavioral issues related to being intact (not sterilized). Intact cats are prone to behaviors such as spraying, yowling, and aggressive behavior that leads to fighting. These cats often end up outside reproducing with other intact cats further contributing to the cat overpopulation crisis. In other extreme cases, cats reproduce uncontrollably indoors, leading to a hoarding situation.
Hoarding cases are becoming increasingly common. Shelters and rescues thus become even more overwhelmed with unwanted cats and kittens.
The only long term, cost effective and humane solution is high volume spay/neuter.
Why spay and neuter your cat?
Statistically, cats are prolific breeders. An intact female cat can have an average of 1 to 8 kittens per litter, with 4 to 6 being the most common range. Over her lifetime, a single healthy, unspayed cat can produce over 100 kittens.
Intact females are also more prone to mammary cancer and pyometra, a deadly infection of the uterus. Intact males can potentially impregnate hundreds of female cats in his lifetime. They are more prone to roaming, fighting and spraying creating a nuisance for neighbors. Intact males are also more likely to suffer injuries and contract diseases such as FIV and FeLV.
According to the data, assisting the owned cat population is the foundation of any successful community cat program. Organizations should commit to making sure that well over 50% of the cats that they sterilize each year come from the owned cat population.
How Ironbound Cats is different
Our approach is non-judgmental and based on empathy, compassion and equity for both the pet and their human caretakers. Many owners want to fix their cats but face real life challenges and barriers: lack of reliable transportation, lack of available affordable appointments, or the inability to take time off from work to take their cat to the vet. The cost to spay/neuter a cat has skyrocketed in recent years. The average cost to spay or neuter a cat in New Jersey is roughly $500-600, making it out of reach for many.
Ironbound Cats was founded to help cat owners, community cat caretakers and their cats have greater access to low cost veterinary care. We are committed to ending the homeless cat crisis and helping cats live longer and healthier lives.