Feral cats have their place in our midst. All creatures are part of the web of life, and especially if native, part of a healthy eco system. Felines have always been coveted on sailing ships, farms, and other rodent-infested areas. They are invaluable for pest control, but not being indigenous to North America, their breeding must be controlled.

Cities and rural communities alike harbor rats and mice. What better exterminator is there than a cat? Born to hunt, these animals efficiently dispatch their prey, then dispose of the evidence. How convenient and tidy of them, even if they do sometimes leave half-eaten “presents” on our doorsteps in the wee hours. I like to think of this as their method of reminding us how hard they work.

Some wonder why if they are such good hunters, we set up and maintain feeding stations for ferals. The main goal of Catalyst for Cats, Inc. is to reduce the population of feral and stray cats in our county. To do this, we need to trap them and spay or neuter them. What better way to entice them to us, but to provide easy food?

Once trapped, they are checked over by a veterinarian who gives them a general health check prior to surgery. An ear is tipped, right for male, left for female, for two reasons; first, so we can tell at a glance that the cat is no longer intact, and second, what sex it is. After recovery from surgery, the cat is returned back to where it was trapped.

This too some people question, wondering why we don’t just dump it somewhere out in the boonies. Cats, as with any animal, have their territories, and they form colonies with other felines in the neighborhood. To be dropped into another’s area causes, in a sense, gang wars. The interloper is either beaten up or run off, and loses a known source of food and shelter.

If attacked, the injured cat often suffers abscesses and infection which can lead to a very painful and lingering death. If chased off, it will find itself in yet another animal’s territory starting and the wars start again. It is much better to return a cat to familiar turf and colony.

Providing a steady food source, helps us monitor the number of cats in any given area. If a new animal appears, it is noticed right away, and steps can be taken to trap it and bring it into the program.

As mentioned previously, our goal is population control. If cats were left to breed on their own, some areas would see a devastating drop in local birds and other indigenous species, upsetting the balance of nature. This became apparent recently on San Nicolas Island in the Santa Barbara Channel. It was dealt with by trapping and removing the cats to a sanctuary on the mainland, one built exclusively for them.

The whole story will be printed in our upcoming newsletter. Become a member, and we will add you to our mailing list. Drop me a line through this website if you are interested.