THAT’S NOT MY CAT… BUT, MAYBE I WANT IT TO BE? INSIDE THE CAT DISTRIBUTION SYSTEM

Gen Z cat enthusiasts aren’t just believers in the so-called cat distribution system—they’re spreading the word through memes and T-shirts.

The lore of the “cat distribution system” fuels its popularity: When the universe presents a stray cat, many people choose to take it in, foster it, or adopt it, leading to a happy ending. This mythology helps transform countless pet-free homes into warm, loving havens for stray cats and orphaned kittens across the country.

“I never realized how much I loved cats until one came into my life unexpectedly,” Tina Fried, the senior director of ASPCA’s Los Angeles Felines Programs, told USA TODAY. “The cat distribution system is a way for cats to make their presence known and show people just how wonderful they are.”

However, stray cats don’t just appear out of nowhere. While animal welfare experts appreciate the idea of the ‘system,’ they approach it with caution, according to Fried. Not every outdoor cat or kitten necessarily needs to be adopted or brought to a shelter.

“I think people often misinterpret what the universe is signaling when they find kittens outside,” Fried explained.

What is the cat distribution system?

According to Will Zweigart, executive director of New York’s Flatbush Cats, a nonprofit dedicated to reducing the stray cat population in Brooklyn, it’s far more common for dog owners to obtain their pets from a breeder or a shelter rather than directly from the street.

In the U.S., if someone wants a cat, it could seemingly come from anywhere: a junkyard, a grocery store parking lot, or from underneath an abandoned car—making a trip to the animal shelter seem unnecessary for those who find their cats through other means.

However, the reality behind the allure of the cat distribution system can be harsh. According to Zweigart, there are so many stray cats in the U.S. that those reaching shelters represent only a tiny fraction of the overall population.

“There are far more cats being born and in need of homes than there are available homes,” Zweigart said.

The downside of the ‘cat distribution system’

Fried and Zweigart express skepticism about the cat distribution system, noting that it can sometimes cause more harm than good.

According to Zweigart, the phenomenon often leads to situations where a cat with a loving owner is taken by someone who is overly eager to claim their cat through the distribution system.

“I wouldn’t want someone to see a cat and mistakenly believe that some greater force is at play, leading them to inadvertently take a neighbor’s well-cared-for cat,” Zweigart said. “If you’re not familiar with the area, it’s especially important to be cautious about picking up any cat you come across.”

Fried noted that one of the worst things you can do with kittens is to separate them from their mother while they’re still nursing. Outdoor female cats with litters often leave their kittens to find food, so if someone encounters a group of adorable, sleeping kittens, their instinct might be to take them to a shelter or foster home, Fried explained.

“But if you find a kitten on the street that appears healthy, thriving, and content, it likely has a mother cat caring for it. Our focus should be on fostering kittens that are sick, injured, or truly orphaned,” Fried said.

Kittens that are visibly dirty and underweight are more likely in need of assistance, as these are signs they may be orphaned, Fried added.

Trap and release programs are a solution

According to the ASPCA, over 3 million cats enter U.S. animal shelters each year, and more than 500,000 are euthanized.

Zweigart’s nonprofit, Flatbush Cats, is dedicated to humanely trapping community cats in Brooklyn and spaying or neutering them to curb the growth of the stray population.

“We quickly realized that rescuing or adopting alone wouldn’t solve the problem,” Zweigart said, emphasizing the critical role of spaying and neutering outdoor cats.

According to Zweigart, the cat distribution system is effective only if you first ensure the cat doesn’t already have an owner. This involves posting in community forums, knocking on neighbors’ doors, and checking the cat for a microchip.

Once you’ve done this, there’s no need to thank the universe, Zweigart said.

“The people who end up adopting or rescuing a cat unexpectedly often needed that companion more than they realized,” Zweigart said. “You had to have been in a place where you were ready for that animal, whether you were aware of it or not.”