2 min read
This Father’s Day, PETA is delighted to honor Marc Maron with the WTF (Wonderful to Felines) Award for his exceptional dedication to his feline friends. Best known for his hit podcast, WTF With Marc Maron, he’s also an exemplary guardian to his beloved kitties, Sammy, Buster, and Charlie Beans. We couldn’t be more pleased to recognize his dedication to the safety and well-being of cats everywhere. Oh, and did we mention he’s vegan?
Marc’s actions speak louder than words, from building a first-rate catio that keeps his feline friends safe and entertained to advocating for spaying and neutering.
His commitment to promoting spaying and neutering is one of the many reasons we’re honoring him. In the U.S., homelessness is not just a human problem. On any given day, an estimated 70 million homeless dogs and cats are struggling to survive on the streets. Marc has been a vocal advocate and uses his platform to spread the word, raising awareness of this crisis and reassuring those who may be nervous about surgery for their furry companions: “I promise, folks, they won’t feel or remember a thing, and they’ll live longer, healthier, happier lives because you gave a shit and did the right thing.”
Marc understands the dangers outdoor environments pose to cats. According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, 60% of the cat deaths that occur outdoors are due to trauma, often from being hit by cars. Additionally, free-roaming cats are at a higher risk of contracting diseases such as feline leukemia, FIV (feline HIV), and rabies. Not only are the outdoors dangerous for cats, cats are also a danger to the outdoors.
Cats who roam outdoors pose a significant threat to wildlife, killing an estimated 1.3 to 4 billion birds and 6.3 to 22.3 billion mammals each year in the U.S. alone. This environmental devastation is another critical reason to keep them indoors or in secure outdoor spaces. By building a catio, Marc has provided his feline companions with a safe space to enjoy the outdoors without the associated risks.
You can follow his lead by keeping cats indoors or in secure catios and spaying or neutering your animal companions. Happy Father’s Day to all the cat dads out there, and a special congratulations to Marc Maron, the cat’s meow!
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