T-Trap N-Neuter V-Vaccinate R-Release -TNVR

Fixing the Community Cat Problem

As our Girl Scout Silver Award project, we have decided to take on the challenge of fixing a cat colony nearby. Donations are welcome and encouraged.

Community cats are a big problem. People will adopt or buy a cat, then decide they don't want them anymore and abandon them. These cats are often not spayed or neutered (fixed). They breed, causing the stray cat population to grow exponentially. A female cat can become a queen (A pregnant or unspayed female cat) three times a year, if not more. As soon as their kittens are born, they can mate and become pregnant again.

This causes the population to spiral out of control, as the kittens will grow and have kittens by the age of 4 months, who will grow and have kittens, and on and on. Not only does their population grow, but local bird and other small creature populations decline. Outdoor cats have nearly caused the extinction of many species of birds, and according to abcbirds.org, "Cats have contributed to the extinction of 63 species of birds, mammals, and reptiles in the wild and continue to adversely impact a wide variety of other species, including those at risk of extinction such as Piping Plover."

On the other hand, others believe that community cats help to control the population of rodents and pests, including rats, mice, insects such as roaches and beetles, etc.

Our plan is to take on a cat colony near me and trap, neuter or spay, vaccinate, and release the cats in it, preventing them from breeding and spreading disease. The result is a healthier colony that will no longer contribute to the overpopulation. Any kittens that are trapped can be domesticated and adopted out.