Feral Cats at Risk in Iowa, Va.

March 17, 2008

SECAUCUS, N.J. -- Two feral cat-related cases have risen this week in a couple American cities. Neither situation bodes well for the felines in question, and also indicates that Americans' perceptions of how to handle wayward animals fall short of humane.

At a trailer community, in Fairfax, Va., called Meadows of Chantilly, some 200 stray and feral cats are currently living among the single and double wide homes. Residents complain that the felines defecate on their small yards, make noise and in general, are a nuisance.

However, a few residents care for the animals, feeding and providing them with water.

According to Alley Cat Allies, a feral cat education group based out of Bethesda, Md., the majority of the cats are spayed or neutered –- meaning in time, the population will begin to dwindle.

“The management company's plan to trap these cats and take them to be killed at the local shelter –- at considerable expense to Fairfax County taxpayers –- is cruel and misguided,” said Becky Robinson, president of Allay Cat Allies, which has been involved with the Chantilly colony since 2005.

The organization touts a program called Trap-Neuter-Return. It's a method of dealing with colonies that Robinson believes is the best answer to the problem, since no other alternative has shown promise in preventing the return of feral cat colonies.

By trapping, neutering, vaccinating -- that part is left out of the program name -- and returning the animals, it allows them to safely live out their lives without risk of increasing the population size or transmitting common diseases. It allows nature to take its course.

But the community’s property manager, Equity Lifestyle Properties, sees the cats more like a rodent infestation, and has assured its concerned residents that the animals will be removed by a pest control company.

Information on how you can help prevent the extermination of the Meadows of Chantilly cats can be found at the bottom of this story.

The second case is in a small Iowa town with a big feral cat problem. A drive through Randolph, clearly shows any number of the dozens of cats that run freely through the streets.

Randolph Mayor Vance Trively has decided to incentivize residents to help resolve the problem by offering a $5 bounty for every live cat that is collected. Once caught, they can be dropped off with the city, and after a period of a week or so, the animals that aren't claimed will be euthanized by the city.

“The fact that a city would place a 'bounty' on the lives of outdoor cats is absolutely barbaric and ludicrous,” said Robinson. “Providing a financial incentive to have an animal spayed or neutered is a great idea. But in our civilized society, the notion of offering cash to produce a cat for slaughter is completely unacceptable.”

The formulas being applied both in the Virginia and Iowa communities assert that by collecting and killing the animals, the problem will go away. However, ACA's Robinson disagrees with that notion, contending that “it's only a temporary solution -– and a horrific one at that.”

Robinson noted that many cities have found that “catch and kill” policies don't work because new cats simply move in, breed prolifically and begin the cycle all over again.

By utilizing Trap-Neuter-Return programs, which ACA offers to teach and setup free of charge, many communities across the country have found a happy medium with the cats.

In L.A., police parking facilities are home to a few colonies. In Cape May, N.J., where one of the country's oldest institutionalized T-N-R programs is located, the cats have become a well-known part of the community.

When the security of an endangered bird species living near the Cape May feral cats came into question, the city banded together in support of the cats –- agreeing to relocate any colony that was too near the nesting grounds of the piping plover.

Compromise is possible, and has proven successful for feral cats. If you'd like to voice your support for the voiceless felines, copy and paste the links below into your Web browser.

If you live in Maryland, Washington D.C., Illinois, Delaware, or Virginia, send a letter to the Meadow's of Chantilly management company voicing your opposition.

dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=224100>

If you live in Iowa:

dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=224102>

You can make a difference for stray and feral cats by signing ACA's petition, “Oppose the Killing of Cats.” Your signature tells decision-makers across the country that citizens care about protecting our nation’s cats.

dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=224101>

Finally, follow this link to make a donation to help save the cats. <https://dnbweb1.blackbaud.com/OPXREPHIL/Link.asp?link=224103>

Tell us what you think about “Feral Cats at Risk in Iowa, Va.” under this story. Share your favorite videos by clicking on the ZootooTV tab. You can send us your story ideas by e-mailing us at news@zootoo.com or by calling us at 877-777-4204.