Rethinking community cats

Have you ever passed by a cat outside and wondered whether it was lost or just an owned cat enjoying the outdoors? In some instances, the cat may be neither and instead a “community cat”.  Community cats are cats that may be stray, feral, or loosely owned outdoor cats. These cats are “owned” by a community of people, rather than one individual person. Members of the community provide their care by providing food, shelter and in some instances veterinary care. Many animal welfare organizations have recognized these efforts and offer resources and assistance to ensure the care and management of community cats. Earlier this month, I had the opportunity to attend “Rethinking the Cat”, a daylong symposium in Syracuse, NY dedicated to community cats sponsored by the Humane Society of the United States and Petsmart Charities.

outdoor cat 1

 

The session began with an inspiring lecture by Christy Rogero of Pets For Life Philadelphia and Camden at HSUS. Christy’s passion for pets and people led her directly into underserved areas of these cities where her goal was and continues to be sharing information with community members that will help provide care to their pets. Emphasizing the need for animal welfare organizations to develop trusting relationships with the members of these communities, Christy highlighted personal stories of challenges and triumphs. She reminded the audience that although community cats may appear to be un-owned, community members often feel a strong attachment to these cats. It is therefore very important that members of animal welfare organizations introduce themselves and clearly explain their intent to help community cats.  By doing so, community members are more likely to be supportive of the animal welfare agency’s efforts and may even be willing to lend a hand. The result will be greater success at providing care and management of community cat populations.

feral cats eating

 

Dr. Cynthia Karsten of the Koret Shelter Medicine program at UC Davis College of Veterinary Medicine discussed the effects of traditional community cat population management methods on the cats, shelters and the communities from which the cats come. Removal of community cats has historically been expensive and ineffective. Admitting community cats into shelters may contribute to overcrowding, leading to increased disease transmission. Dr. Karsten advised returning healthy community cats to the locale in which they were found, as even in harsh climates these cats are capable of survival. Returning community cats after they have been neutered and vaccinated will contribute to the health of both the community cat population and the shelter.

cat buried in snow

 

Dr. Michelle White of Cornell University gave several tips on how to engage local veterinarians in the management of community cats. Dr. White suggested animal welfare organizations reach out to veterinarians who are openly supportive of humane community cat management. Veterinarians may be willing to help by providing individual animal care, population level care or spay/neuter services. Establishing medical and surgical protocols in collaboration with the veterinarian will strengthen the relationship between the animal welfare organization and the veterinarian. Lastly, Dr. White stressed the importance of determining surgical and medical capacity, after-hour care and fees with the veterinarian ahead of time to ensure a smooth process.

feral cat and kittens

“Rethinking the Cat” provided an excellent opportunity for animal welfare organizations to learn and discuss innovative methods for community cat care and management. If your animal welfare organization is thinking about becoming involved in caring for community cats please visit the following links:

http://www.petsmartcharities.org

http://www.humanesociety.org/about/departments/pets-for-life/

 

print

Print Friendly, PDF & Email

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *