While it’s not dog-related, managing feral cat colonies is a big part of reducing the homeless pet population (an important cause for DFB!). Unchecked, feral cat colonies will grow like crazy, often becoming a nuisance to local residents and other animals. But if you’ve ever seen a cat wandering the streets with what looks like the corner of their ear chopped off, then you know someone’s been looking after him or her.
The ear cropping is a widely-used marker that a feral cat has already been trapped, usually vaccinated, and spayed or neutered before being released. TNR (trap-neuter-return) is (in my opinion) a humane and effective method to control feral cat colonies. Since most adult feral cats don’t make for great house pets, the alternative to TNR is euthanasia.
But TNR programs require resources – human and financial. Someone needs to take the lead in monitoring a local colony, setting the humane traps, and bringing the animals in to a vet to be fixed. The NYC Feral Cat Initiative is an effort by the city and a nonprofit two nonprofits, the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals and Neighborhood Cats to take control of feral cat colonies. They provide numerous services to those willing to help, including TNR training classes, equipment (traps, etc), access to free spay/neuter services to certified TNR caretakers (via the ASPCA, Toby Project, Helping PAW and the Humane Society of NY), and ongoing advice to volunteers.
On Saturday, August 7, 2010, the NYC Feral Cat Initiative will be holding a workshop entitled, “Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR): How to Manage a Feral Cat Colony” from noon to 3:30 p.m. at the Brooklyn Library Sunset Park Branch, 5108 4th Avenue (at 51st Street).
Advance registration is required. E-mail lois@NYCFeralCat.org or call Neighborhood Cats at (212) 662-5761 with your name, address, phone number, and date of workshop you wish to attend. For more information, visit the Neighborhood Cats website.
For additional resources and organizations working on the feral cat issue in New York, go here.
(photo courtesy of the New York City Feral Cat Initiative)
Clarification: The New York City Feral Cat Initiative is a joint program of the Mayor’s Alliance for NYC’s Animals and Neighborhood Cats, two private non-profit organizations. It is not a city/government program.