The Torch

Issue date: 1/10/08 Section: Features

Media Credit: Curtis McCain Cats share an outdoor enclosure in the backyard of Cathy Bill's Eugene home. Rescued cats are kept in the three shelters until permanent homes can be found.

Feral cat colonies can be found in barns, under porches, behind restaurants, and even on LCC's main campus. "The Humane Society of the United States believes that feral cat overpopulation is a community-generated problem and that every community has a responsibility to work toward a solution. The HSUS is concerned about feral cat populations, the welfare of individual cats, and the welfare of wild animals," HSUS posted on its website.
"The HSUS advocates community-based Trap-Neuter-Return programs with on-going responsible management as the most viable, long-term approach available at this time to reduce feral cat populations."
One organization that is working locally to limit the population growth of feral cat colonies in a humane manner while also providing basic veterinary services and cat food is Stray Cat Alliance.
"Stray Cat Alliance provides low-income cat caregivers with financial assistance for cat food, vet care, spaying and neutering … especially for people who care for feral cat colonies," Executive Director and President of the Stray Cat Alliance Board, Deanna Kuhn said.
"The spaying and neutering of cats is really our focus," Kuhn said. SCA has helped fix approximately 3,400 cats in the Eugene/Springfield area since its creation in July 2001.
SCA is currently participating in Spay Day 2008. Greenhill Humane Society has donated the money to spay and neuter over 350 cats. SCA is collaborating with Greenhill Humane Society to provide these services at no cost to low-income cat caregivers throughout Eugene and Springfield. SCA began receiving calls on Dec. 10 and within a few days was booked through March for the free sterilizations.
"If you're going to a regular vet, it can be anywhere from $80-$100 for a female and for a male it's anywhere from $37.50-$100," Cathy Bill, treasurer of SCA, said of the costs of sterilizing cats.
"There're a lot of vets who are doing something to help too," by offering lower cost spaying and neutering, Bill said.

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