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Global Exploitation of
Cats
The Urban Cat Project does not have
separate campaigns regarding the abuse and exploitation of cats, but we
support and encourage others who love cats to support the campaigns below.
The list of how cats are abused criminally and legally, as well as international
issues, is too broad to cover in depth, so we are highlighting some of the
current campaigns we support.
CATS USED IN MEDICAL
RESEARCH
Roughly 25,500 cats are used yearly
in the United States for vivisection (experimentation on a live animal).
This number excludes governmental research in which the numbers are not public
record, therefore the actual number of cats experimented on yearly in the
United States is much higher. Cats are used primarily for neurological experimentation
(such as stroke research), eye, ear and HIV/AIDS research. The Urban Cat
Project President personally reviews numerous protocols where cats are experimented
on and finds very disturbing trends. Researchers often perform the same
or similar experiments over and over again on different cats. For example,
cats are used for cochlear experimentation after being deafened. Cats are
also routinely used for cornea research, and their eyes are removed at the
end of the study, yet the animals are not euthanized. The details of experiments
and the suffering inflicted on cats are too enormous to detail here, however,
protocols using cats are readily available to the public in medical journals
and by request from many facilities. The FDA record shows half of the cats
used in research experienced pain/distress. Although cats continue to be
used in a wide variety of experimentation, strokes and HIV infection are
on the rise. Cochlear and cornea transplants are already used successfully
in people yet the cat experiments continue.
The Urban Cat project opposes the use
of cats in laboratory experiments on the grounds that such inhumane "use"
creates immeasurable suffering, is immoral, unethical, and unnecessary.
For a detailed description of experiments and to learn how you can help with
the campaigns against them, please visit these websites:
The New
England Anti-Vivisection Society
The American Anti-Vivisection
Society
The National
Anti-Vivisection Society
CAT ISSUES IN KOREA
Unfortunately in Korea, cats are not pets and are seen as
bad luck and carriers of disease. This has led Korea to top the list of inhumane
treatment of cats worldwide. Please click on link below to read more
on this issue and for how you can help. Please visit http://www.koreananimals.org/animals/cats.htm for the facts and to learn how you can
help in this worthy cause.
CLASSROOM DISSECTION OF CATS
Over 100,000 cats are dissected annually
in U.S. high schools, and many more in Universities and Colleges across
the country. Cats are one of the most frequently dissected animals in the
student's laboratory. Cats are obtained for dissection through a variety
of sources including biological supply companies (who raise and kill cats
specifically for dissection), and animal dealers sometimes known as Class
B dealers (licensed animal brokers). Class B dealers obtain cats through
"free to a good home" ads, by stealing stray pets, and from animal shelters
where such practice is allowed. Both biological supply companies and Class
B dealers are notorious for animal cruelty.
Luckily, you do have a choice. If you
or your child are faced with a requirement to dissect a cat in school or
University, SAY NO! The more students who refuse to dissect cats, the closer
we come to ending this unnecessary practice. Many states, including California,
have laws that require a teacher to offer a non-animal lesson in place of
a dissection if the student chooses. Many simulated dissection models exist.
You must ask for an alternative as it will not automatically be offered.
For more information and to learn how you can help end the dissection of cats
please click here.
DOMESTIC CATS SLAUGHTERED FOR THE FUR TRADE
Many countries in Asia breed cats, round
up strays, and steal pets for a "trade" in cat fur. Often these skins are
labeled as rabbit fur (supposedly a by-product of the rabbit meat industry),
when in fact these skins are from cats. Cat fur is used primarily as trim
and to make trinkets. After an expose on this horrendous "industry" the
United States passed a law to ban the sale of cat fur in this country (if
it is known to be cat fur). Please join the Humane Society Campaign to stop
the trade in cat fur. Click here
for more information on how you can help.
Cats
in the fur trade - http://www.hsus.org/furfree/dogs_cats/
CATS KILLED FOR HUMAN CONSUMPTION
Approximately 4 million
cats are brutally killed for food each year in China. Cats are companion
animals in many countries in the world, and have earned a special place in
our lives and deserve to be protected from being served for dinner! However,
there is a growing business in some areas in China that serve cats for human
consumption. Much more attention is needed world-wide to halt this barbaric
cruelty against our docile and intelligent feline friends, so atrociously
slaughtered for food. Please click here
for more information.
Cat
eating in China -
http://www.animalsasia.org/index.php?module=3&menupos=5&submenupos=3&lg=en
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