Today is National Feral Cat Day, which is probably not an occasion most of us had any reason to be aware of. But feral (or stray) cats are here to stay and should be treated humanely. Though feral cats, also known as community cats, have been living in close proximity to humans for 10,000 years, they are not socialized and therefore are not adoptable. The cats live in colonies where they have access to food and shelter. There are many such colonies throughout the St. Louis region, including the CWE.
A national organization, Alley Cats, works to improve the lives of stray and feral cats. A local organization, St. Louis Feral Cat Outreach, was begun a couple of years ago by Diane Marcella, above left, and Christine Oldenburg, above right. Kim Traylor, middle, is known to many CWEnders as the "Petsitter." She is also the person Diane and Christine call when there is a report of a feral cat in the CWE.
Last Saturday morning a group of approximately 30 volunteers gathered across from Bowood Farms to build winter shelters for the cats. By days end they figured they would have at least 50 shelters to distribute throughout the region.
Diane and Christine have been involved in changing the City of St. Louis' policy toward stray cats too. Until very recently the Health Department's approach was to trap and kill them. It's been documented that this policy was not effective in stopping the cat population from increasing. The "vacuum effect" is used to describe what happens when cats are removed from an area: Other feral cats move in to inhabit the same spot, and the kitten population continues.
TNR (trap, neuter & return) is a more humane and effective approach to controlling the feral cat population. Feral cats are trapped and taken to a vet where they are neutered, given rabies shots, and then their left ear is nipped to indicate they have been treated. After recuperating, the cats are returned to their outdoor home. They can then live out their natural lives more healthily and without increasing the cat population.
After meeting with Diane Marcella, Christine Oldenburg, other TNR proponents and concerned citizens, the City's Interim Health Director, Pamela Rice Walker, already supportive of TNR, created the City's TNR Task Force. Christine & Diane have since been appointed to the City's TNR Task Force. Board Bill 66, which was passed in the aldermanic chamber this summer, put this new policy into effect. Now there is a St. Louis area vet who takes care of neutering feral cats and administering the necessary shots.
Volunteers from all over the St. Louis region and Illinois helped assemble shelters Saturday from plastic tubs that were lined with styrofoam and straw, above and below.
Karen Victor is shown stuffing straw into the containers for added warmth.
Craig Willams and Susie Jansen came from the Hampton Village neighborhood to help. Susie, who has been volunteering to work with the city's feral cat population for years, is also a member of the City's TNR Task Force.
The finished shelters were to be distributed throughout the area.The organizers asked me to mention that the styrofoam shelters you see in the photo will be reused and not thrown into a landfill.
A donation of $25 to St. Louis Feral Cat Outreach, a 501(c) 3, will provide a feral cat with the opportunity to lead a healthier life. Purchasing live traps, other medical expenses, travel, and food for the cats comes out of the volunteers' pockets. To learn more about the benefits of TNR and how you can help, visit Alley Cat Allies or St. Louis Feral Outreach's Facebook page.
Kim Traylor, an animal advocate speaker, is available to speak to neighborhood groups about the feral cat population. Visit her website for contact information.
Who is the veterinarian that is providing the neutering/spaying services?
Thank you for the post. It was a wonderful Saturday Ellen Bowood Farms #bowoodfarms
Nicki, a subject dear to my heart, thanks for distributing this information.