THE CLINTON COUNTY COMMUNITY CATS PROJECT

OR – THE TRUE STORY OF WHAT

REALLY HAPPENED TO

MY EAR!

BACKGROUND

WE HAVE A PROBLEM!

More than 2,000 births in just 4

years…

AND…More than 2 MILLION in 8 years!

OVERPOPULATIONWHAT’S THE IMPACT OF

NOT SPAYING 1 FEMALE CAT & NOT NEUTERING

1 MALE CAT?

Ferals• Do not vocalize• Do not approach humans • Typically nocturnal • Appear well groomed • Do not eat until humans leave

Strays• May approach people and

food• May vocalize • Appear at all hours

“Community Cat”An umbrella definition that includes any un-owned cat

SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE FERAL!

1. More incoming cats than ability to shelter and adopt2. Feral cats are at greater risk of transferring disease 3. Nuisance in the community

Impact on Shelters

1. Standard cat population “control” for decades 2. Little impact on exponential growth3. TK leads to ‘burnout’ everywhere4. TK results in high employee turnover5. TK taints public image 6. Costly 7. Creates VACUUM EFFECT

Current Practice: Trap & Kill (TK)

TK IS NOT AN

OPTION!

THE TNR OPTION

YOU WILL MEET A NICE

DOCTOR IN THE VERY NEAR

FUTURE

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR)Free-roaming Community and Feral Cats are: •Humanely trapped, •Sterilized, medically treated, •Returned to locations where they were found

1. Reduced Colony Size 2. Controlled Feeding Practices3. Minimized Behavioral

Disturbances4. Safer Existence for both

Residents and Cats

THANK YOU SPCA AND

COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

1. Wrote TNR Guidelines - CCSPCA approved 2. Caregivers follow ALL TNR procedures3. Door hangers notify neighbors of trapping schedule4. Cats taken to Beckoning Cat to be Altered, Vaccinated,

Treated for Fleas/Worms, etc.5. Cats returned are Ear-Tipped to identify as Spay/Neutered. Ah Ha!

MISSION STATMENTA community effort to protect and improve the lives

of cats in Clinton County

TNR Community Guidelines

IMPLEMENTATION

I’M OK…I’M OK…I’M OK…

1. Cats should be at least 8 weeks of age or 2 pounds in order to be spayed/neutered.

2. Cats need to be 12 weeks of age to receive their rabies vaccine.

3. Nursing mother’s kittens must be 4-5 weeks old or eating some solid food before spaying.

Trapping Criteria

Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty

Trapping Procedure Demo

We currently have 75 Traps! Towels

Bowls for food and water ‘Smelly’ Food

The Return

• Cats are given a sufficient time (typically overnight) to rest post surgery and then are returned to their original habitat

• Colony caregivers continue to provide food and monitor health issues in the colony

COORDINATION

WHO YA’ GONNA’

CALL?

1. Call SPCA about TNR2. Coordinator returns call – Determines eligibility3. Coordinator locates trained TNR Volunteer to visit

Caregiver and explain procedure4. Coordinator arranges transportation with TNR

Volunteer or Caregiver5. Caregiver traps cats…6. Caregiver traps cats…7. Caregiver traps cats…8. Cats transported TO:FROM Beckoning Cat same

day

Current Procedure

APPLAUSE!

Clinton County SPCA - ~300 Cats Trapped/Neutered/Returned

Spay Day - ~150 Cats Spayed/Neutered

Success: Year 1 (2014)

PLUSSPCA Spayed/Neutered

More than 200 Cats AND

More than 200 Dogs there too!

NEW CAT POLICY

However:

Research suggests that 75% -80% of reproducing females

must be sterilized before population begins to fall.

Our ChallengeWe Know That:

A maintained Cat colony will decrease in size or stabilize over time due to the natural elimination

of animals and the inability to reproduce.

CAN WE TARGET THESE CATS?

• Identify clusters of kittens (typically 12 or more) from SPCA owner-surrendered cats and TNR records

• Overlay clusters of kittens – with land use and previous owner-surrendered kittens to target Spay/Neuter effort

Cornell University Recommends Using GIS

CLINTON COUNTY

COMMISSIONERS VOLUNTEERED

COUNTY GIS

• Help Educate EVERYONE about Community Cats

• Spread the Word that TNR is available in Clinton County – Call SPCA

Community Support

PLEASEDONATE orVOLUNTEER

for TNR

CREDITS

Sue GlossnerJanice JohnsonMidge ProbstThe TNR CatJudy Yoho

THANK YOU

SOURCES

Alley Cat AlliesHundred Cats FoundationBeckoning CatDr. Scarlett – Cornell Univ.