Helping Feral Cats Live Nine Lives

You see them sunning on porches, hiding in the shadows of office buildings, and lingering outside barns. They live on the fringes, cautious, and seldom venturing close to humans. They are called alley cats, barn cats, tomcats, street cats, and feral cats.

Born outside, these unsterilized cats often form colonies, making homes wherever they can. Tomcats prowl for mates, females become pregnant, and the cycle of reproduction continues. But what if  the cycle of unwanted, uncared-for feral kittens could be broken?

The Animal Center has teamed up with Spay & Neuter Association of Newtown to work toward making that goal a reality in Newtown through low-cost spay/neuter services and trap, neuter, and return (TNR) — the most effective and humane strategy for reducing feral cat populations.

To increase knowledge about feral cats and promote TNR, Alley Cat Allies founded National Feral Cat Day, which is celebrated annually on October 16. The Animal Center and Spay & Neuter Association of Newtown (SNAN) will be joining animal welfare organizations across the country in celebration of this important day, and this year will be hosting the following local events as part of their awareness campaign:

éLow-Cost Spay & Neuter Clinic on Friday, October 20. Open to Newtown residents who have limited financial resources or who are feeding feral cats, this clinic charges $10 for feline spay/neuter surgeries, exam, and vaccines. By appointment only. Call SNAN at 426-5730.

éSupper for Strays Food Drive, October 23–29, at Super Stop & Shop of Newtown. All donations of cat food from this drive will be used to help feed the many local stray and feral cats this winter. Supper for Strays financial donations can also be sent directly to The Animal Center for purchase of cat food.

For more information on National Feral Cat Day or these local events, contact The Animal Center at 270-0228 or visit TheAnimalCenter.org. The Animal Center is a Newtown-based nonprofit charity focused on animal welfare.

Spay & Neuter Association of Newtown is a volunteer organization trying to reduce the number of unwanted animals in Newtown and surrounding communities, and can be reached at 426-5730.

Alley Cat Allies, based in Bethesda, Md., is a leader of the national feral cat movement. To learn about Alley Cat Allies, visit AlleyCat.org.