How Many Cats Are Euthanized In The USA Each Year?

[SeanS]

So unfortunately many pets are killed each year. Do we know currently how many cats are euthanized in recent years? The only reliable source I have is the ASPCA here: Pet Statistics

But they don't have a source.

Can anyone provide any more concrete information on this?

 

[NY cat man]

I seriously doubt that any truly reliable number will ever be established. For that to happen, every shelter would have to report every cat euthanized, but that wouldn't count those from veterinary clinics. For example, we recently had to have our oldest cat euthanized, not for our convenience, but to end his suffering. I doubt that that went into any database. Now, multiply that by all of the other practices across the country, and you can see that any 'statistics' are nothing more than a wild guess, depending on who is doing the fundraising.

 

[mani]

I think S SeanS is probably referring more to cats that were unable to find homes?
Still very difficult to establish, though.

 

[Margot Lane]

I had a similar dooming thought about pet food and climate change…one of those statistics you kinda don’t want to know.