FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
May 27, 2008

“FELINE FIESTA” OFFERS REDUCED ADOPTION FEES FOR CATS AT YOUNG-WILLIAMS ANIMAL CENTER

More cats arrive at Young-Williams Animal Center during the summer months than any other time of year. That’s why the center is launching a “Feline Fiesta” through August to encourage people to pick up a new cat for your family.

Beginning June 1, in honor of national Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month, adoption fees for cats over the age of six months are being greatly reduced.

Cats between six months and seven years of age will be $75. That’s half the $150 adoption fee for kittens. Older cats over the age of 8 will be offered for $50.

“Adult animals, particularly cats, are often the most difficult to adopt out,” said Tim Adams, executive director of Young-Williams Animal Center. “We just want people to realize the benefits of owning adult cats, and we’re willing to offer a financial incentive.”

Adult cats can be the best choice since most are litter trained and have calmer temperaments than kittens.

The adoption fee includes spay or neuter, shots (except for rabies vaccine, which pet owners must get at their own vet), a feline leukemia test for cats, check and treatment for intestinal parasites and a microchip. The special rates will continue through August as part of the “Feline Fiesta” program.

Young-Williams Animal Center offers these facts about “kitten season,” the official mating time for cats:

• The unofficial mating season for cats runs from March through November.
• An un-spayed female cat will go into heat every three weeks.
• A mother cat can produce 18 kittens in one “kitten season” and up to three litters a year.
• A female cat can begin having kittens at six months old.
• In seven years, one female cat and her offspring can lead to 420,000 cats.

Adams said the best way to help reduce the numbers of unwanted animals all year long is to spay and neuter your cats and other pets.

The Young-Williams Animal Center is the official animal shelter for Knox County and the city of Knoxville. The center is a nonprofit organization that turns no animal away and is dedicated to the sheltering and placement of animals, general animal welfare, and public education of companion animal issues.

The Young-Williams Animal Center is conveniently located just off Sutherland Avenue at the entrance to John Tarleton Park at 3201 Division St. in Knoxville. The center is 8/10th of a mile from the intersection of Kingston Pike and Neyland Drive/Concord Street and offers animals for adoption Monday through Friday, 11 a.m.–7 p.m., Saturday, 11 a.m.–5 p.m., and Sunday, 1-5 p.m.

For more information about Young-Williams Animal Center, including detailed driving directions, call (865) 215-6599 or visit http://www.knoxpets.org.

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