There is nothing quite like the smell of cats, especially during mating season. Intact males lurk around their neighborhoods sniffing the air for females in estrus. Females in heat make yowling sounds, and leave scent markers by spraying urine around their territory to draw males to them. Nothing will stand between the un-neutered male and the object of his desire, and he may travel long distances following these enticing scents.

The males also spray, and it is their foul-smelling urine that greets us as we open our front doors to get the paper in the morning. They spay on such upright objects as bushes, porches, car tires, children’s toys left in the backyard, announcing their presence and virility to any and all interested females. At this time of year, the marking may be accompanied by nightly “singing” and fights between competing males. It is not unusual to find tufts of cat hair in your yard following one of these episodes. Mating, too, often sounds and looks like fighting, as the male bites and pins the female and she screams as the he dismounts. We all know what happens after that. Nine weeks later, a litter of kittens appears, sometimes from a very odd hiding place.

Intact male cats are much more aggressive than those who have been neutered. Who hasn’t seen the neighborhood tom with the torn ears and limp? These cats are also much more likely to spray. Both of these things make them more apt to be injured during their lifetimes and also make them less desirable as pets.

The terrible consequences of fighting are injury and disease. Cats’ mouths and claws are notorious for being “dirty.” Those that are bitten or clawed are prone to infections and painful abscesses. Left untreated, as is the lot of the stray, suffering, debilitation and even death too often occurs. One of the worst diseases we have seen in the feral community is FIV, the feline version of AIDS. Although it is not transferable to humans, it will spread through the cat community. Trapping the stray cats and testing for disease is one way Catalyst for Cats helps keep the population safe, including those pets which may interact with their wild neighbors.

As an active board member of Catalyst for Cats, I see firsthand the results of uncontrolled breeding of felines, both domestic and feral. I have the opportunity to work first hand with the stray cats in the county, and see the hardships and illnesses that these poor animals face on a daily basis. It is not only safe to spay/neuter, but actually healthier for the animals in question, and is the surest way to keep down the numbers of unwanted cats in our towns and shelters. So, if your neighborhood is beginning to smell of cat, and you see felines lurking around your backyard in search of a mate, give us a call. We’ll help you trap.

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.