De-sexing pets is crucial as a single female cat and her offspring can produce up to 420,000 kittens in seven years.
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This has contributed to a feral cat problem in the Southern Highlands with almost 40 per cent of cats and kittens at Wingecarribee Animal Shelter euthanised in the past three years.
In the period from 2016 to 2018, 91.5 per cent of dogs and 62.5 per cent of cats were re-homed.
In 2017, 71.2 per cent of euthanised cats were classified as feral or infant.
Staff at the shelter often have to treat seriously mistreated animals under the most distressing of circumstances.
- Council spokesperson
Infant cats are generally under six weeks of age and still totally reliant on their mothers. A cat classified as feral is in a wild state and shows no signs of domestication.
A spokesperson from Wingecarribee Shire Council said the decision to euthanise any animal was not taken lightly and was only done after veterinary advice.
"[The staff at the shelter] often have to treat seriously mistreated animals under the most distressing of circumstances," they said.
The lower rate of re-homing for felines was due to the number of feral cats, and infant kittens deemed to have limited opportunity for survival, received by the shelter.
The majority of infant cats at Wingecarribee Animal Shelter are feral or stray.
"Proper care for infant kittens requires 24-hour care which is best served by the mother cat," the spokesperson said.
"Many infants die without their mother.
"Staff endeavour to raise all healthy infant kittens, unfortunately a lot of kittens are already infected with diseases or are sick due to malnutrition after being abandoned by their mother at such a young age.
"Staff are trained in hand raising kittens, and often foster them until they are ready for adoption."
The council receives more cats than dogs at the shelter.
Many of the cats are feral or sick and are unable to be re-homed.
"Feral cats are often unable to be rehabilitated. Many have never experienced human interaction. Those that can may take many months to rehabilitate," the spokesperson said.
"While cared for at the shelter, due to their lack of human interaction, [the feral cats] often cause damage and injuries to themselves due to stress. These cats will often refuse to eat or drink.
"Euthanising feral cats that are unable to be re-homed is more humane than continuing their suffering and stress in an environment they are unaccustomed to."
Feral cats can also carry diseases which can quickly spread to the healthy feline population in the shelter.
A total of 11.7 per cent of euthanised felines in 2017 were ill or diseased.
Factors such as illness, disease, injury, and negative behavioral issues can result in euthanasia.
"The Wingecarribee Animal Shelter operates as a minimal euthanasia facility and the council is committed to maximising all opportunities to re-home suitable companion animals," the spokesperson said.
Wingecarribee Shire Council adopted the Alternatives to Euthanasia policy in 2015.
The council recommended owners microchip pet dogs and cats for ease of identification.
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