Bridging the Gap for Feral Cat Rescue

by Linda Alexander

From time to time, FETCH highlights a person who exemplifies what it means to "make a difference" in the lives of our pets. Get to know these inspiring individuals though their own words. Know someone who is making a difference in their own way? Tell FETCH, and we’ll consider them for a future issue. Send an email to editors@fetchthepaper.com.

A dedicated and busy second-grade teacher who also volunteers for Sonoma County Wildlife Rescue, Laura instructs her students on the importance of spay/neuter programs in controlling the population of feral cats and, to their delight, occasionally brings a cat or rescued baby possum in for a visit. Laura shares her home with four rescue house cats: Jeepers, Baby Thomas, Daisy, and Scooter, all with a little story to tell about their lives prior to living in the lap of luxury. Laura also has a family of feral cats residing in her yard by choice since they prefer the great outdoors to living inside. In addition to her teaching career and work with the Kitty Committee, Laura also directs a 16-piece swing band “Swing and a Miss,” which plays at fundraising events throughout the Sonoma County.

When did you first become involved in feral cat rescue?

Comyns: I remember the exact date: July 3, 1998. On that particular summer day four cats, an adult and three tiny kittens, crawled under the fence into my yard. Well-intentioned neighbors had been feeding feral cats who had taken residence in their backyard but had allowed the animals to breed unchecked. I called Forgotten Felines for advice, learned the ropes of trapping feral cats from Becky Hill, and eventually ended up capturing 32 felines living and breeding next door. After trapping them at the rate of about two per week, Becky brought them in for spay/neuter surgery, then returned them to me for ongoing care. A single cat might survive if left to fend for him or herself but once they start reproducing, things quickly spiral out of control. I began assisting others to trap feral cats in Sebastopol with groups of up to 40 cats from a single colony captured and brought in for spay/neuter surgery. When homeless cats are no longer able to breed uncontrollably they can live out their lives in a humane environment.

Tell us about Kitty Committee and its role in rescuing feral cats.

Comyns: Kitty Committee was officially launched in 2001 and is an all-volunteer organization. Our mission is to lend a helping hand to homeless cats and their caretakers in west Sonoma County by humanely trapping feral cats, arranging for spay/neuter surgery, and returning the cats to their colonies for daily sustenance care. Kitty Committee assists people who know of feral cats in need by providing instruction on trapping and loaning them equipment. We are also active in working to reduce the feral cat population by focusing our efforts on the all-important role of spay/neuter surgery.

What happens to the cats once they’re trapped and spayed or neutered?

Comyns: Once the cats have been sterilized they are usually returned into the care of the people who initiated their rescue. People who make the effort to rescue the cats are usually willing to provide food, shelter, and care for them. If the cats are adoptable, every effort is made to place them in loving homes. I may also foster cats for a certain period of time until placement is found for them.

How does Kitty Committee work with other feral cat rescue groups?

Comyns: Calls from people who have been feeding feral cats begin to increase in April and reach a fever pitch by early fall. This is where we step in by helping people trap them so they may be brought in for spay/neuter surgery. For many caring people who feed feral cats on their property, especially the elderly or infirm, the task of trapping is difficult and discouraging. Our group steps in to fill that need and acts as a liaison between individuals who are caring for ferals and spay neuter organizations such as Forgotten Felines and veterinarians who volunteer their expertise to provide spay neuter surgery. Kitty Committee also networks with various rescue groups and the Humane Society to locate shelter or foster placement until suitable homes can be found. We also administer the west Sonoma County spay/neuter voucher program for “FAIRE,” Friends of the Animals in the Redwood Empire.

How is Kitty Committee funded?

Comyns: Donations to nonprofit Kitty Committee go directly to the welfare of cats by providing food, shelter, or medical care and have no administrative costs. In December, 2005 we were the recipients of a generous donation [from Betty Ann Sutton’s Ryder Fund]. The monies from this donation, along with other private funding, allows Kitty Committee to assist people with veterinary expenses, transportation, food, and other needs of their feral cat guests.

What changes would you like to see in the arena of dealing with the ongoing problem of controlling feral cat populations?

Comyns: I would like to see the county institute a consistent aggressive spay/neuter program. Currently, all the programs are different and continually changing. People who attempt to get feral cats sterilized at times get frustrated and give up their efforts, or they are unable to pay fees that may be required when they bring cats in for surgery. In those instances, Kitty Committee acts as a resource. More needs to be done to target certain neighborhoods and provide education where the feral cat population is greatest.

How can people help in Kitty Committee’s efforts?

Comyns: People may go to our website, www.kittycommittee.net, for information on how to help via direct contributions or by shopping at various stores through iGive.com, which donates 30% of purchases to the Kitty Committee. For information about Trap-Neuter-Release programs, volunteering, or to receive our newsletter please contact me at (707) 823-9061 or at KittieMittie@aol.com.