Press Releases
Cats Anonymous anticipates 6000th spay/neuter for feral cat at next clinic
Green Bay, WI – On September 10, 2011, Cats Anonymous, Inc. and Oakview Veterinary Clinic will host their 9th monthly spay and neuter clinic of the year for feral cats in Northeastern Wisconsin.
Since the time that the group emerged from a dispute over shooting cats as population control in 2005, Cats Anonymous has sterilized over 5,844 cats. They are anticipating their 6,000th feline “customer” during the next monthly high-volume effort known as "Spay Day".
The group’s focus is different from programs typical of shelters, humane societies and rescues in the area in that they are focused exclusively on “ferals” - cats who are not considered anyone’s pet.
"Feral cats are members of the domestic cat species, but they cannot be adopted into homes.
They live outdoors in family groups called colonies", said Lisa Kay Peters, volunteer for Cats Anonymous. "Neutering them is essential to a program called Trap/Neuter/Return, which ends the breeding cycle and makes feral cats better neighbors".
Peters states that the focus on feral cats is essential to ending the euthanasia of thousands of felines each year in our community. While feral adults may not be good candidates for adoption, their adorable kittens often flood shelters and fill adoptive homes - while adult housecats in shelters and rescues are passed over. "It’s just one piece of the effort to solve overpopulation, but it’s one we’ve learned is critical based on the fact that decades of other practices in the community have not worked".
The Trap/Neuter/Return program humanely traps feral cats, brings them to a veterinarian to be evaluated, spayed or neutered, and vaccinated. Cats that have undergone the procedure are ear tipped—while under anesthesia, a small portion of the left ear is painlessly removed for identification. After recovering from surgery, cats are returned to their outdoor homes.
Cats Anonymous also provides support to help ensure that people and feral cat colonies get along peacefully. All of their services, from spay/neuter to education and support, are provided on a donation basis. "We are indebted to Oakview Veterinary Clinic, all of our volunteers, and individual donors for making this program continue", Peters said.