Press Releases

October 13, 2006

For Immediate Release

Contact:  Michelle Pintar

Phone:  (414) 431-6104

E-mail:  mpintar@wihumane.org

Was That a Cat That Just Darted By?

October 16 is National Feral Cat Day; OHS Promotes Trap-Neuter-Return

GRAFTON, Wis. – You see cats in allies, sitting under bushes and running through the neighborhood.  Where are their cat's guardians?  Who worries about their care?  These amazing creatures found in our neighborhoods may be feral or unsocialized cats and without our help their population will continue to increase in Ozaukee County. 

To honor National Feral Cat Day on October 16, the Ozaukee Humane Society stresses that Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the only humane method that has shown a reasonable chance of controlling feral cat populations in environments like Ozaukee County.  TNR means that cats are trapped, spayed/neutered and re-released into a supervised colony.

Trap-Neuter-Return offers numerous advantages, including helping to end the breeding of more unwanted cats and helping neighbors to live more harmoniously with the cats.  Other benefits of TNR include helping to return socialized cats at large to their homes, or to new homes through adoption; and decreasing the cost to government animal control for their care and being more humanitarian.    

Since city ordinances currently restrict TNR, few alternatives exist to reduce the cat population. OHS is encouraging members of the community to voice their support.  The community can do the following:

·           Spay/neuter your own companion animal and keep your cat indoors.

·           Educate your friends, family and neighbors about feral cats, cat overpopulation and TNR.

·           Tell your Alderperson that you support changes to local ordinances that would allow TNR in Ozaukee County.

·           If you have a feral cat problem in your neighborhood, meet with neighbors to discuss it or become a Community Cat Caregiver.  To find out more, call (414) 431-6CAT.   

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Photo/Interview Opportunity:   Eddie is a free-roaming feral cat who arrived at OHS with a bite wound on his leg. To photograph Eddie or talk with an OHS representative about TNR on Monday, October 16, contact Michelle Pintar at (414) 431-6104.