According to the below studies, litterbox problems are THE most common reason cats are relinquished from their homes (33-43%), and aggression/biting is close behind (14%). Interestingly, these happen to be the 2 behavioral problems most associated with declawed cats.
Unfortunately the studies also reveal that 8-12% of cat parents are relinquishing their cats because of scratching people or destruction inside the home (assuming the destruction is from clawing). This does NOT have to be the case. Let's work together to enlighten these cat parents about the easy & effective ways to manage cat claws like regular nail trimmings, Soft Paws, and tall sisal scratch posts. Posting fliers on community bulletin boards, vet offices, pet stores, and shelters about humane scratch management can be very effective & helpful to cat parents. Cat claws don't ever have to lead to furniture damage, declawing, or relinquishment from the home!
WHY ARE CATS RELINQUISHED FROM A HOME?
***According to the “Top Ten Reasons for Pet Relinquishment to Shelters in the United States" survey done by the NCPPSP, "house soling" is in the top 10 reasons cats were relinquished from their homes.
http://www.petpopulation.org/topten.html1.) Too many in house
2.) Allergies
3.) Moving
4.) Cost of pet maintenance
5.) Landlord issues
6.) No homes for littermates
7.) House soiling
8.) Personal problems
9.) Inadequate facilities
10.) Doesn't get along with other pets
***According to "Behavioral Reasons for Relinquishment of Dogs and Cats to 12 Shelters" (Salman, Hutchinson, & Ruch-Gallie) in the Journal Of Applied Animal Welfare Science 2000, "soils house" was the #1 reason cats were relinquished from the home, and "aggression toward people" was #3. Table 3 p.96
Soils house=43.2%,
Problems between new pet & other pets=18.9%,
Aggressive toward people=14.6%
Destructive inside=12.4%,
Aggressive toward animals=12.4%,
Bites=9.2%,
Disobedient=5.9%,
Euthanasia for behavioral reasons=5.4%,
Unfriendly=5.4%,
Afraid=3.8%
***According to "Reasons for Removing a Cat from the Household" (Ralston Purina 2000) as tabled in the article "Indoor Cats, Scratching, and the Debate over Declawing: When Normal Pet Behavior Becomes a Problem" (Grier & Peterson), The State of the Animals III:2005, "Eliminating Outside the Litterbox" was the #1 reason cats were relinquished from the home, and "biting people" was #2.Table 3 p.30
Eliminating Outside the Litterbox=33%,
Biting People=14%,
Intolerant of Children=11%,
Scratching People=11%,
Destroying Household or Personal Items=8%
**Picture courtesy of Cat-Tales Rescue, Cinti, OH**