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66% of cats euthanized in Japanese shelters are newborn kittens
Source: Ministry of the Environment (Japan) (2018)
Notes
Kittens are vulnerable due to insufficient staff to care for them, often resulting in same-day euthanasia
Ministry of the Environment (Japan). (2018). Ministry of the Environment Annual Report 2018. As cited in Cat Cognition. https://catcognition.com/statistics/shelters/#jp-kitten-euthanasia-rate-2018
~9,000
Approximately 9,000 dogs and cats were euthanized in Japan in 2023, down from 1.22 million in 1974
Ministry of the Environment (Japan) (2023)
9,000 cats + 3,000 dogs
In 2022, approximately 9,000 cats and 3,000 dogs were euthanized in Japanese shelters, representing 0.07% of the pet population
Ministry of the Environment (Japan) (2022)
57%
Kittens (under 5 months) make up 57% of feline shelter intakes
Shelter Animals Count (2025)
11%
Cat euthanasia rate in Canadian shelters was 11% in 2021, a historic low
Humane Canada (2022)
