RIVERSIDE COUNTY – The Department of Animal Services set a goal at the beginning of the year – to save 5,000 more felines in its care during 2024. To meet this goal, the department is decreasing humane euthanasia of cats and significantly increasing transfers to rescue partners, paving the way for the department to near the goal of its 5,000 Cat Challenge.
Additionally, the agency is saving more cats through its pet support program, diverting cats into foster homes or providing critical low-cost or free spay and neuter surgeries for community cats.
“As a result of our collective efforts, more than 4,000 cats have been saved, which is approximately 80 percent of our goal,” said Supervisor Yxstian Gutierrez, Fifth District. “We are urging the public to help us reach this important milestone in the campaign’s final two months. If you can open your home to foster or adopt a cuddly cat, visit us today.”
A key statistic: In 2023 Riverside County humanely euthanized roughly 6,400 felines. So far in 2024, the feline euthanasia number is down significantly. To date, about 1,900 cats have been humanely euthanized – a drop of more than 4,500 cats.
The 5,000 Cat Challenge started after Riverside County Animal Services collaborated with animal welfare experts in January 2024. Those experts included Jackson Galaxy, Hannah Shaw, Dr. Kate Hurley and Dr. Julie Levy of the universities of UC Davis and Florida, respectively. All four traveled to Riverside County to assist the department’s leaders and created a lifesaving plan for cats and kittens.
Dr. Hurley, of the UC Davis Koret Shelter Medicine Program, and Dr. Levy of the University of Florida’s Maddie’s Shelter Medicine Program, launched the Million Cat Challenge in 2014 as a joint project supported financially by Maddie’s Fund. The goal was to save 1 million cats in five years. The project saved 3 million cats by January 2021.
Much in the same spirit of the Million Cat Challenge, Riverside County Animal Services initiated its 5,000 Cat Challenge with unanimous support from the Riverside County Board of Supervisors.
“We’re elated with our cat saving progress,” said Kim Youngberg, interim director. “It has been fantastic to get so much support from our communities with programs, such as foster, trap neuter and return. The public is much more supportive of these efforts compared to years ago – and this has made all the difference in more cats being saved.”
Historically, felines had been the most at risk of euthanasia in Riverside County shelters, although the county reached high lifesaving numbers in the pre-pandemic years through partnerships and community cat programming. At one point, Animal Services saved approximately 85 percent of all cats.
During and after the January 2024 gathering, experts met with local community cat advocates and rescue groups, engaging stakeholders in the challenge. Since the initial meetup, Riverside County Animal Services created a kitten nursery, grew its kitten foster program and expanded spay and neuter support for cats and kittens in the shelters and communities.
Riverside County is asking for the community’s help to reach the 5,000 goal. There are currently more than 100 cats and kittens available for adoption at its four shelters. Other ways to help include fostering, volunteering, and sharing information with friends and family about the 5,000 Cat Challenge.
Submitted by Riverside County Department of Animal Services.
