Since the world did NOT end on 12/21/12 and with the New Year beginning, we are all still putting the final touches to those resolution lists. Why not add one about stepping up to volunteer for a local animal rescue group, specifically Catalyst for Cats? Dealing with feral cats can be an exciting and challenging endeavor. It is also very rewarding.

Mating season will soon begin within the cat population and following that, kittens will start appearing around April. It is vital to boost our TNR (Trap/Neuter/Return) efforts at this time to reduce the numbers of those unwanted litters before they are born. To do this, we are in desperate need of trappers.

Trapping for TNR is planned according to available spay/neuter appointments. Trapping is done in the evening or early morning and usually involves a one- to two-day commitment. Following trapping, transportation of the cats to and from the vet is needed. Oftentimes an overnight holding area is used.

We need reliable committed volunteers for trapping and transportation of the cats, especially in Santa Maria. We have all the equipment and will train anyone interested in coming on board with us. TNR gets to the root of the problem of unwanted kittens, as well as immediately improving the life of the adults.

Spaying/neutering provides relief from the hormonal urges that governs a cat’s life. Constant breeding takes such an unhealthy toll on both males and females, shortening their life expectancy to single digits.

Males suffer abscesses from wounds received fighting other males and are often hit by cars as they roam the streets in search of females.

Females bear from two to three litters each season and struggle to feed all the resultant mouths and herself as well. Half of her kittens will die horribly from predation, starvation, parasites or exposure.

A female in heat or a male responding to his hormones will stop at nothing to get outside. If you have intact cats in your home, this would be the ideal time to have them fixed so there are no “oops” litters. There is no longer a six month waiting period for felines, since early (eight weeks) spay/neuter has been deemed safe. Last year we had two young females drop litters. They had been impregnated at the tender age of four months, so you can see my point.

We cannot catch them all, so if trapping does not appeal to you, perhaps fostering kittens or a feral mom with her litter is of more interest. Not all of the cats that come into our care are wild, even though we are a feral TNR group. Many of the kittens we catch are young enough that all they need is some loving, hands-on care to become socialized enough for adoption. We supply all the equipment, food and medical costs; you supply the home, time and love.

Through our hard work over the past three years, we have stabilized an average of more than 55 colonies of feral cats per year, all in the North County. Working together with Project PetSafe, just this last year alone 316 fewer stray cats were surrendered to the Santa Maria Animal Shelter and the number of cats killed there was reduced by 144. We feel that our role played a significant part in reducing these numbers.

We also fostered, socialized and found homes for just over 100 kittens. And speaking of kittens, we still have a couple left which are under six months of age. There won’t be any more until late spring, so if you are in the market, please call us.

Don’t want to leave your home or can’t foster? We could use some help with foster kitten coordination (phone calls and internet), supplies and equipment storage, grant-writing, fundraising, and other tasks. If you love cats as much as we do and are dedicated to their wellbeing, please call us now. It is always a good time to get involved in your community and we would welcome your help.

Happy New Year!