THE CLINTON COUNTY COMMUNITY CATS PROJECT
OR – THE TRUE STORY OF WHAT
REALLY HAPPENED TO
MY EAR!
BACKGROUND
WE HAVE A PROBLEM!
More than 2,000 births in just 4
years…
AND…More than 2 MILLION in 8 years!
OVERPOPULATIONWHAT’S THE IMPACT OF
NOT SPAYING 1 FEMALE CAT & NOT NEUTERING
1 MALE CAT?
Ferals• Do not vocalize• Do not approach humans • Typically nocturnal • Appear well groomed • Do not eat until humans leave
Strays• May approach people and
food• May vocalize • Appear at all hours
“Community Cat”An umbrella definition that includes any un-owned cat
SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE FERAL!
1. More incoming cats than ability to shelter and adopt2. Feral cats are at greater risk of transferring disease 3. Nuisance in the community
Impact on Shelters
1. Standard cat population “control” for decades 2. Little impact on exponential growth3. TK leads to ‘burnout’ everywhere4. TK results in high employee turnover5. TK taints public image 6. Costly 7. Creates VACUUM EFFECT
Current Practice: Trap & Kill (TK)
TK IS NOT AN
OPTION!
THE TNR OPTION
YOU WILL MEET A NICE
DOCTOR IN THE VERY NEAR
FUTURE
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)Free-roaming Community and Feral Cats are: •Humanely trapped, •Sterilized, medically treated, •Returned to locations where they were found
1. Reduced Colony Size 2. Controlled Feeding Practices3. Minimized Behavioral
Disturbances4. Safer Existence for both
Residents and Cats
THANK YOU SPCA AND
COMMUNITY FOUNDATION
1. Wrote TNR Guidelines - CCSPCA approved 2. Caregivers follow ALL TNR procedures3. Door hangers notify neighbors of trapping schedule4. Cats taken to Beckoning Cat to be Altered, Vaccinated,
Treated for Fleas/Worms, etc.5. Cats returned are Ear-Tipped to identify as Spay/Neutered. Ah Ha!
MISSION STATMENTA community effort to protect and improve the lives
of cats in Clinton County
TNR Community Guidelines
IMPLEMENTATION
I’M OK…I’M OK…I’M OK…
1. Cats should be at least 8 weeks of age or 2 pounds in order to be spayed/neutered.
2. Cats need to be 12 weeks of age to receive their rabies vaccine.
3. Nursing mother’s kittens must be 4-5 weeks old or eating some solid food before spaying.
Trapping Criteria
Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty
Trapping Procedure Demo
We currently have 75 Traps! Towels
Bowls for food and water ‘Smelly’ Food
The Return
• Cats are given a sufficient time (typically overnight) to rest post surgery and then are returned to their original habitat
• Colony caregivers continue to provide food and monitor health issues in the colony
COORDINATION
WHO YA’ GONNA’
CALL?
1. Call SPCA about TNR2. Coordinator returns call – Determines eligibility3. Coordinator locates trained TNR Volunteer to visit
Caregiver and explain procedure4. Coordinator arranges transportation with TNR
Volunteer or Caregiver5. Caregiver traps cats…6. Caregiver traps cats…7. Caregiver traps cats…8. Cats transported TO:FROM Beckoning Cat same
day
Current Procedure
APPLAUSE!
Clinton County SPCA - ~300 Cats Trapped/Neutered/Returned
Spay Day - ~150 Cats Spayed/Neutered
Success: Year 1 (2014)
PLUSSPCA Spayed/Neutered
More than 200 Cats AND
More than 200 Dogs there too!
NEW CAT POLICY
However:
Research suggests that 75% -80% of reproducing females
must be sterilized before population begins to fall.
Our ChallengeWe Know That:
A maintained Cat colony will decrease in size or stabilize over time due to the natural elimination
of animals and the inability to reproduce.
CAN WE TARGET THESE CATS?
• Identify clusters of kittens (typically 12 or more) from SPCA owner-surrendered cats and TNR records
• Overlay clusters of kittens – with land use and previous owner-surrendered kittens to target Spay/Neuter effort
Cornell University Recommends Using GIS
CLINTON COUNTY
COMMISSIONERS VOLUNTEERED
COUNTY GIS
• Help Educate EVERYONE about Community Cats
• Spread the Word that TNR is available in Clinton County – Call SPCA
Community Support
PLEASEDONATE orVOLUNTEER
for TNR
CREDITS
Sue GlossnerJanice JohnsonMidge ProbstThe TNR CatJudy Yoho
THANK YOU
SOURCES
Alley Cat AlliesHundred Cats FoundationBeckoning CatDr. Scarlett – Cornell Univ.