Busy Year for Avalon Trap, Neuter, Release

AVALON- A Trap, Neuter and Release (TNR) program for cats here had a very busy year, according to coordinator Sue Keen.
As of Nov. 28, a total of 53 cats were trapped, 12 had already been altered, 23 were spayed and 18 cats were neutered.
The Avalon TNR group was able to get all the cats adopted, some as barn cats, a few as outside pets but most were placed as indoor cats.
The TNR program found six pregnant cats, three in the spring and three after Labor Day. All were spayed and placed in homes.
A female cat was trapped in June and before it could be spayed, she had five male kittens. Four of the kittens were adopted. Keen has the mother and one of the kittens.
At a Nov. 28 Borough Council meeting, Keene said one cat died right after Hurricane Sandy. One kitten had to have a leg amputated.
“It’s coming along, we’re going to get it adopted,” she said.
According to a written report Keen supplied to council, the kitten had been left outside during the hurricane and was underfed and dehydrated.
Keen said no tax money from the borough has been used to fund the TNR program. It has been funded by donations.
“The program is working out beautifully, I think it’s been a success,” said Keen.
Councilman Charles Covington asked what was the source of cats if many of the cats roaming the borough have been spayed or neutered.
Keen said some summer visitors leave their cats behind when they leave in the fall.
“The majority of the ones we have found were domesticated cats that were not fixed,” she said.
Some decide they are tired of their cat and it’s easier to leave the cat behind, said Keen. She said it is difficult to trace who once owned a cat that is now roaming outside.
Volunteers monitor feeding areas for cleanliness and also monitor the health of the cats, according to her report.
In an effort to control the abandoned cat population in the borough, the group has trapped, neutered or spayed cats for over 15 years. The number of abandoned cats has decreased over the years.
In 1997, there were more than 100 cats counted in colonies.
In 2009, 18 cats were in the TNR program at 30th Street, 14 at 27th Street, 16 at 21st Street for a total of 48 cats.
In 2011, 12 cats were in a colony at 30th Street, eight at 27th Street, seven at 21st Street for a total of 27 cats.
In 2012, 11 cats were residing at 30th Street, seven at 27th Street, six at 21st Street for a total of 24 cats.
The report notes there have not been any kittens at the boardwalk colonies in the past four years. The cats at those locations also keep the mouse and rat population in check.