Volunteers Sought for ‘Cape Cat Care Project’

COURT HOUSE – Who can’t resist the urge to put out a dish of fresh cat food and water for the stray cat that knows you look out the window to see if she is there every night? Scenarios like this are played out day after day in neighborhoods and communities across the country and around the world. There is nothing wrong with you helping this free-roaming cat. It actually gives you a feeling of accomplishment and fills our human need to care for those whom we deem as less fortunate.
Shore Animal Control Services, which provides animal control services for the municipalities of Upper, Dennis, Woodbine, Wildwood, Lower Township, West Cape May and Buena is a supporter of Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return ( TNVR) whenever possible. They are beginning a partnership with The Animal Alliance of CMC and the CMC Animal Shelter to help encourage TNVR. This new program is called “Cape Cat Care Project”. They are seeking volunteers who might already be feeding cats in their neighborhoods that have not been able to alter the cats.
Dr. Nick Holland, owner operator of Shore Animal Control Services simply states, “The majority of animals euthanized as a result of overpopulation are pit bulls and feral cats. The only way to stop this overwhelming number of pit bulls and feral cats coming into the shelter is through aggressive spay and neuter and TNVR. We are in complete support of the Alliance and the shelters TNVR programs and will do everything possible to help stop the litters that pour into the shelter.”
Left unaltered, free-roaming cats continue to reproduce creating more homeless kittens. Through TNVR, free-roaming cats live out their lives without adding to the homeless cat population. According to scientific studies, free-roaming cats gain weight and live healthier lives after being altered. TNVR programs are proven to stabilize and significantly reduce the size of free-roaming cat colonies. By limiting free-roaming cat populations, fewer unwanted and homeless cats are taken to shelters and euthanized.
The official definition of feral is, “living in a wild state after domestication”. We consider that feral simply denotes unsocial behavior toward people. Behaviors can be modified, and some feral cats become tame. Regardless of whether a cat loves people or fears them, any outdoor, unaltered cat reproduces and contributes to the homeless cat problem.
We choose “free-roaming” to best describe what most people call “feral cats”, because free-roaming includes lost, abandoned, loosely-owned and stray cats in addition to “feral”. People feed and care about all the cats.
Body condition is a reliable indicator of health, that is, a robust cat is a healthy cat. Scientifically conducted studies reveal that altered free-roaming cats gain weight after altering. This makes sense considering that females no longer endure pregnancy and raise kittens. The risk of uterine infection and mammary infection disappears after spay surgery. Neutered male cats stop vying for breeding and fight less resulting in a healthier lifestyle.
No one questions that people frequently enjoy relationships with wildlife, whether they are bird watching or crouching near tide pools to take in the amazing diversity of life. We care about other creatures in our world even when they can’t be snuggled and many people bond with free-roaming cats and find great satisfaction in helping them lead healthy lives.
All unaltered cats contribute to the pool of un-adopted kittens and cats euthanized in shelters every day. If we magically altered every free-roaming cat today, more would be born tomorrow. Tame cats are the original source of all free-roaming cats. The cats haven’t chosen their owners nor their social skills. For our purposes, whether a cat is tame, feral-behaving, shy, friendly, semi-feral, stray or something else, just doesn’t matter. We offer spay/neuter any of them, because it changes their lives forever.
A scientific study revealed that about 85% of pet cats are altered while only 2% of free-roaming cats are altered. Population projections estimate 33 million kittens/ year come from pet cats and 147 million come from free-roaming cats. Every time a litter is born, it lowers the odds that others will be adopted. Competition for homes increases. What happens to the kittens that aren’t adopted? You know. But with spay/neuter, fewer kittens are born, competition for homes is reduced and lives are saved through prevention.
If you see or know of any unaltered free-roaming cats that you would like to help feed and manage, please call Shore Animal Control at 1-800-351-1822. Free housing and straw will be provided and low cost spay and neuter options will be offered.
Photo Credit Linda Gentille: A typical dog house converted with straw that protects food and cats from the elements.