You can do this -
We can help!

In December 2007, we welcomed Laura Jordan to the Our Companions staff to manage our Sterile Feral Program, which was developed to address the overpopulation of wild or feral cats already living in our area. As Laura puts it, "Rescue workers have long known that the only humane way of controlling the problem is to trap the cats, have them sterilized and vaccinated and return them to their habitat where they live out the remainder of their lives under the care of a responsible person who continues to provide food, shelter and care. Another important part of monitoring a colony is to TNR (trap-neuter-return) any newcomers so that there is zero population growth. The goal? No more feral cats.

"The plain fact is that just feeding a colony and removing new kittens doesn't solve the nuisance problems associated with breeding behaviors; roaming, screeching, fighting, yowling, and spraying of noxious urine by the toms. No one wants that in their yard no matter how much they love cats!"

Much more heartbreaking, says Laura, is the suffering of cats in an unmanaged colony. "The instincts of intact cats lead them on a constant hunt for a mate forcing them into dangers such as roadways and coyotes. Fighting among themselves leads to horrible injuries and infections of Feline Aids and Feline Leukemia. Kittens born outside are at risk of death from exposure, parasites, predators and often are sickly and pitiful. The stress to the Momma cats of constantly being pregnant, nursing and then having their kittens taken away over and over again is torture both physically and mentally. It is difficult to always catch all the kittens, so the size of the colony continues to increase and the suffering multiplies."

Laura manages every aspect of our program, which includes teaching people how to TNR, advertising, recordkeeping, scheduling, bookkeeping, fundraising, educating folks on feral cats in general, serving as liaison between OC and the veterinarians who provide the low-cost sterilization, training volunteers to assist with this program, and occasionally doing some TNR herself. In her own words, "Much of my day is spent speaking with people who have feral cats that they are already caring for and want to improve their lives and stop the breeding. Thankfully, I have a solution to offer. We talk it through and get started."

What makes the OC program different from others in the state, says Laura, is our full-service approach that includes loaner equipment, vet care, volunteers to walk participants through the process, food drives, and more. "We have a TNR training class once a month for people who want to participate in our program. These meetings are open to the public, and we invite anyone interested in learning more about feral cats to attend. We provide traps especially designed for feral cats to keep both cats and humans free from harm. We take you through the process step-by-step and are always available to answer questions. We provide the low cost veterinarian and set up the appointments. We hold regular feral cat food drives and even deliver food to the elderly or disabled who are providing excellent care to their ferals, but just have a hard time getting to the grocery store. We provide moral support for what can be a daunting task to some. We make follow-up calls and continue to keep in touch after the TNR is complete. We assist with injured or sick ferals by arranging vet care. Oh, and did I mention that all of our services are free? The only cost to the client is a portion of what the vet charges to perform the surgery."

The fact is, Our Companions will do whatever it takes to help a colony not only survive, but thrive, says Laura. "One of my goals is to have regular caregiver meetings where people who have ferals can meet to support one another, share ideas and distribute food. I use that opportunity to receive updates, problem solve and provide continuing education on feral cat issues. Besides, what's more fun than being in a room full of feral cat people?"

This time of year is particularly good for beginning a TNR program. "The warm weather can make the project go easier for both caregivers and cats. Trapping is much more pleasant when not sitting in an ice storm watching the traps! However, TNR can be done at any time of year provided that the 24-48 hour recuperation period is in a climate controlled area like a heated garage or basement."

To learn more about the Sterile Feral Program, call Laura at 860-242-9999, or email her at laura@ourcompanions.org. "Our volunteers will explain the program in detail and send you out some information. If you choose to participate, I will meet with you, loan you the traps, show you how to use them and get you on the surgery schedule. You can do this - we can help!"