Pet overpopulation is a serious problem.  Animal shelters become overcrowded and are unable to care for the millions of homeless pets in the United States.  According to the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals 3.4 million cats enter animal shelters nationwide every year.  Each year 1.4 million cats are euthanized. Only 10% of the animals received by shelters have been spayed or neutered. According to USA Today $2 billion is imposed on U.S. taxpayers each year to impound, shelter, euthanize and dispose of homeless animals. The Boone County Animal Shelter had a 26% increase last year of cats coming to the shelter.

The Cooperative Extension Service in Boone County has a 4-H cat club. This group of 4-H members meet monthly throughout the year to learn about cats. Each meeting focuses on education with activities ranging from visiting a cat vet and touring his/her facility to making blankets to donate to the Boone County Animal Shelter. 

The club focuses a lot of time and energy to promote spaying/neutering cats.   Spay/neuter is a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation. They realize there is a big problem with pet overpopulation and they want to minimize it. Therefore, the Boone County 4-H Cat Club is very community service oriented.  Various times of the year the club will have activities to raise money to donate to several non-profit cat rescues.  In the last 5 years they have donated over $1000 to these organizations.  These 4-H members know spaying/neutering is a proven way to reduce pet overpopulation and they want to make a difference.