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Controlling feral cat population is often easier said than done
By Rob Lyon, Smith Mountain Eagle
Want a barn cat for a buddy? There's plenty of cats available. Finding barns is not so easy.
Diane Novak of Hardy runs a service called "Barn Cat Buddies." The goal is take feral cats, have them spayed or neutered and bring them to a "host" barn to live. "Will mouse in exchange for room and board" is the motto on Novak's business card.
Novak recently presented a workshop on safely trapping feral cats so that they can be taken to a veterinarian, be spayed or neutered, have their needed vaccinations and then be returned to the owner. Barn Cat Buddies is one way of trying to curb the cat overpopulation problem that many communities face.
Feral cats, Novak explains, typically have not had human contact as kittens. Many are stray cats dumped by the side of the road or a county dumpster site, she added.
"Some say never to feed a stray as this encourages them to stay," Novak said. "But if your goal is to Trap, Neuter and Release (TNR) it's important to keep them from wandering so you will be able to trap in the future." Feeding the cats can also help tame them, she said.
During her workshop, Novak explained the do's and don'ts of trapping.
€ Use a "live catch" gravity trap.
€ Covering the trap during the process is recommended. Cats like enclosed areas and feel safer and are quieter if the trap is covered. Old blankets, towels or sheets will work.
€ Almost anything meaty or fishy will draw a cat into a trap. Chicken nuggets and sardines are two popular choices.
€ Trapping at dusk is the best time, especially in hot weather. Keep the traps in the shade and check them often.
€ Make sure and wear high-quality gloves when handling the cats.
€ Do not try and corner a feral cat. It is more afraid of you than you are of him and the cat will try and run.
After the cat has been trapped and taken for veterinarian care, the animal needs some special care.
€ Once the cat is alert and able to stand, offer some food and water.
€ If the cat is fully awake the next day, they can be released in the same location from which they were trapped.
Local veterinarians and animal shelters run by area humane societies are available to have the cats spayed or neutered and vaccinated.
Novak often works with Angels of Assisi in Roanoke. They can be reached at (540) 344-8707. The Franklin County Humane Society also has a Planned Pethood Clinic. Call 489-3491.
For more information about the Barn Cat Buddies program, visit www.barncatbuddies.org.
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