Million Cat Challenge
Each year, millions of cats lose their lives in animal shelters in North America. An enormous amount of money is invested in the capture, holding and euthanasia of these animals. The emotional toll exacted by their death is incalculable. Although spay/neuter and other public education initiatives have dramatically reduced euthanasia across the continent, achieving a precise balance between intake, capacity for humane care and positive outcomes remains elusive for many shelters.
In 2014, the Koret Shelter Medicine Program at the UC Davis School of Veterinary Medicine collaborated with the University of Florida Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program to launch the Million Cat Challenge, a five-year campaign to save cats all over North America. As of July 26, 2019 more than 1,500 shelters have joined together to save over 2,000,000 cats (and counting!). The Million Cat Challenge is the world’s largest lifesaving initiative.