My name is Heather and I live in a small town called Summit and recently a cat was coming on my property and looked underweight. I at first thought she had giving birth due to her appearance but later when she kept returning to my property I soon realized she was pregnant. There were no tags or anything on her and she had an engorged tick on her chin and looked very underweight for being pregnant. I would see her cross the busy road and hunting on my property and coming over for food and water. I took her in as she was not taking care of and needed a safe place to have the babies. Needless to say she became a proud momma on July 4th!! Independence Day kittens!!

Then a neighbor came to my house because they had heard from a friend of mine that I had a cat who gave birth. I was harassed by this man and another woman who both claim it is their cat but did not take care of her nor give her the proper treatment needed especially being pregnant. The man had sent another woman over to my property without permission to search.

The cops were called and the state trooper said he was treating it as a feral cat due to three people taking care of the cat but it was just feeding and water outside and no safe place. I thought that was the end of it.

The next day a sheriff showed up to my house threatening to arrest me if I did not turn the cat over. He stated the lady had papers from a clinic in a different state but the cat could not get fixed. I told him I refuse and he worked out an agreement with the lady to where I can keep the cat with the kittens until they are of age but I am to return the cat. I agreed only to calm the situation and protect the mom and kittens.

With that being said and the story behind my request….I started researching NYS laws and there is nothing about the welfare of a cat who is pregnant or even a cat not pregnant. In 353-B it states the appropriate shelter for dogs left outdoors but nothing on cats. We all know the animal population is getting out of hand.

My request is to have a law passed about the appropriate care and shelter for cats as well and that if an owner has a cat who becomes pregnant they are required to provide care for that cat and the kittens. They should be required to provide shelter, food, water, and vet care just as it is required for dogs. If a person fails to comply they should be charged with animal neglect.

This lady did not want the kittens, had no intention of taking care of the cat or her kittens and I took over. The mom and kittens went to the vets on August 5th to be looked at and the mom tested for diseases. Thankfully they are all in the clear! Please help protect the momma from returning to the streets and help other cats with signing this petition and passing a new law about the adequate care for cats and their kittens. 

Also, the agreement I had with the lady was to have the momma until the babies are of age and I also invited her to come over and see the momma and her kittens whenever I’m home. She has not offered any help, money, care, or even showed up to see “her” cat. 

Please consider this proposal and have a law added to the Agriculture and Markets Laws. This is unacceptable behavior and part of the problem with the over population of cats. I plan on getting the mom fixed and finding great homes for the babies. They all deserve love, care, shelter, and a place to call home.