It is quite illegal to dump anything at the Santa Ynez River, be it trash or, as in this case, a nursing cat.

As I heard it told, it happened last spring in Santa Ynez. Reportedly, a woman was upset by the fact that a stray cat in the neighborhood was feeding in her yard, denying her cat sustenance. She managed somehow to catch this interloper, and drove with it to the river where she released the intruder.

The woman thought no more about it until the next day when her neighbor mentioned finding some tiny mewing kittens under a porch. Putting two and two together, there was (I hope) a moment of panic and remorse. Catalyst for Cats was called, and a search ensued for the mother cat, but to no avail.

Did you know that it is illegal to abandon an animal? In the case of cats, especially a nursing mother full of milk, this is really quite cruel. Ripped from her familiar territory where she had a regular food source and shelter, this poor animal suddenly found herself in a totally strange place and without her kittens. At the mercy of the elements, the coyotes, and any other cat in who’s territory she might now be in, we can only hope that she survived; although if she did, that’s a whole different problem. With her kittens gone, she would have gone into heat again. You see, this cat was still “intact” and if she’s out there, is breeding two or three times a year increasing the feral cat population of Santa Ynez.

So please, upon finding an unfamiliar cat in your yard, call Catalyst for Cats for help in trapping, and if it isn’t feral the owner will have a chance to find it. In the case of this poor family, we would have taken the mother to a vet, found out she was nursing, and been able to reunite her with her kittens. All would have been spayed/neutered, inoculated against diseases and fleas, and then adopted to new homes.

Catalyst for Cats is a Santa Barbara County nonprofit organization dedicated to the welfare of feral cats. Through its trap, neuter and return (TNR) and feeding programs, scores of strays have a regular food source, find relief from the endless breeding urges and homes are found for those who are able to be socialized.