Our Policies & Positions

CATsNAP takes a firm and educated stance on many issues facing humane societies and shelters today.

• Spaying and Neutering
  As an organization, we require the spaying or neutering of all animals who go through our organization to ensure that no additional unwanted animals are brought into the world, contributing to the 4-8 million pets euthanized every year in the United States, because there aren't enough homes for them.  Last year in Champaign County, about 1800 cats and dogs were euthanized.

• Declawing
  Declawing is a surgical amputation of the cat's first knuckle and is considered inhumane by many pet organizations.  Therefore as an organization, we strive to educate prospective adopters on ways to maintain the cat's claws by trimming the nails every few weeks, providing an appropriate clawing post, and using humane training methods such as a water spray bottle.

• Euthanasia
  CATsNAP has made a decision to be a no-kill humane society. We will consider euthanizing an animal only in cases of extreme aggressiveness or extreme poor health - conditions which cannot be assisted by medical intervention. In addition, we actively work with veterinarian offices, county facilities and other shelters to retrieve animals slated for euthanasia so that we can offer them a new life through our system. 

• All Cats Should be Indoor Cats
  CATsNAP educates owners on the dangers of allowing cats to go outside unsupervised. Cats face numerous hazards such as poisoning, human cruelty, or getting hit by a moving vehicle. In addition, cats allowed to go outdoors tend to pick-up more diseases and illnesses due to their contact with other cats who are outdoors and not properly inoculated. For the well-being of your cat, please keep them indoors. With a little attention to your cats needs and likes, you can create an indoor environment that keeps your cat healthy, safe, and happy.

• All Animals are Basically Adoptable
  CATsNAP believes that (with the exception of extremely poor health or extreme aggression) every animal is adoptable. There is a home out there for all animals if we look hard enough. This means that we work hard to place "special" felines.