Running a business has not exactly been the cat's meow for Cheryl Barber.
The Auburn resident opened an inn at 10 Fitch Ave. in September. Barber said when she first opened, there was one stray cat frequenting her backyard. Now there are four, and one of them just had a litter of kittens, she said.
The cats, which Barber said live wild in the neighborhood but are fed by a neighbor, will congregate on her deck and get in the trees around the house.
In the winter, they go under the deck. At times, they leave a “terrible” smell, she said.
“We're very frustrated,” Barber said Friday. “I understand that it is not just a problem with this property. Something has to be done.”
Like many communities, Auburn has its share of feral cats. While a handful of organizations are working to help humanely control the population, there is not yet any official policy in the community in regard to the cats.
However, some local officials are saying that the city could offer some funding to help in the efforts.
According to City Clerk Debra McCormick, the city receives a steady flow of complaints about feral cats during the spring and summer - approximately one a week, though that number can vary.
Auburn City Manager Mark Palesh said citizens are usually referred to the local organization Feral Cat Friends because the city does not have an ordinance or program to handle the situation. Earlier this year, city council approved changes to an ordinance regulating dogs in the city. Palesh said councilors did not wish to tackle the issue of cats at the time.
But the topic has come up at recent meetings, and both city councilors and staff members are looking at possible options. One way, Palesh said, would be to fund a local group such as Feral Cat Friends to help reduce the local feral cat population.
“If we can put a partnership together, the city wouldn't mind funding something like that,” he said. “We've got to be responsive to the citizens' concerns.”
Started in 1999, Feral Cat Friends is a volunteer organization that administers clinics at which 60 stray cats are spayed or neutered, given a rabies vaccination, and re-released. A person must first catch and bring in a cat before receiving services.
The group is currently funded by donations, and it holds about one clinic a month, said Alicia McKeen, a member of the organization.
The city donated $3,000 to the group in 2005 for its clinics, but McKeen said each cat can cost up to $200.
Feral Cat Friends will hold a clinic this weekend, though all the reservations have been filled. Slots are reserved by calling the organization's phone number and leaving a message, and a representative will call back to set up a spot at the next event, McKeen said.
Trapping, spaying or neutering, and vaccinating the animals reduces the health risks associated with feral cats while preventing further procreation, McKeen said. It is also more effective than euthanizing cats, as they are replaced new animals and an established, healthy colony will keep away other feral cats, she said.
“This is an extreme issue,” McKeen said. “There are cats everywhere.”
Rita Sarnicola, owner of the Auburn-based Animal Resource Center, said the community needs some sort of comprehensive program that includes cooperation from the city and county.
Sarnicola said one of the best ways to face the issue of feral cats is to educate citizens in responsible pet ownership. That means taking the initiative and spaying and neutering your own animals so they don't make the problem worse, she said.
“Otherwise it is like putting your finger on a dike,” said Sarnicola, who recently organized her own drive to have a number of local feral cats caught, spayed or neutered, and released.
Tompkins County has a community program run through the local SPCA. The organization holds spay and neuter clinics on Tuesdays, and one Sunday, a month for residents who have trapped stray cats. The SPCA will even loan out a trap, according to director Abigail Smith.
Smith said the program is a popular one, and participants take care of about 30 cats a week, though many of those are also pets of low-income families. Such a program is not cheap, she said, and the county helps pay for it.
“We needed a very aggressive and consistent approach to the problem, and this is a great place to start,” Smith said.
Barber said she does not like the idea of catching feral cats herself, especially without knowing whether they carry diseases. However, she also said she is willing to participate in any sort of program if it can help remove the unwanted cats from her property.
“I'm just one person, and this is a widespread problem,” Barber said. “But I am willing to do whatever it takes.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
The cats, which Barber said live wild in the neighborhood but are fed by a neighbor, will congregate on her deck and get in the trees around the house.
In the winter, they go under the deck. At times, they leave a “terrible” smell, she said.
“We're very frustrated,” Barber said Friday. “I understand that it is not just a problem with this property. Something has to be done.”
Like many communities, Auburn has its share of feral cats. While a handful of organizations are working to help humanely control the population, there is not yet any official policy in the community in regard to the cats.
However, some local officials are saying that the city could offer some funding to help in the efforts.
According to City Clerk Debra McCormick, the city receives a steady flow of complaints about feral cats during the spring and summer - approximately one a week, though that number can vary.
Auburn City Manager Mark Palesh said citizens are usually referred to the local organization Feral Cat Friends because the city does not have an ordinance or program to handle the situation. Earlier this year, city council approved changes to an ordinance regulating dogs in the city. Palesh said councilors did not wish to tackle the issue of cats at the time.
But the topic has come up at recent meetings, and both city councilors and staff members are looking at possible options. One way, Palesh said, would be to fund a local group such as Feral Cat Friends to help reduce the local feral cat population.
“If we can put a partnership together, the city wouldn't mind funding something like that,” he said. “We've got to be responsive to the citizens' concerns.”
Started in 1999, Feral Cat Friends is a volunteer organization that administers clinics at which 60 stray cats are spayed or neutered, given a rabies vaccination, and re-released. A person must first catch and bring in a cat before receiving services.
The group is currently funded by donations, and it holds about one clinic a month, said Alicia McKeen, a member of the organization.
The city donated $3,000 to the group in 2005 for its clinics, but McKeen said each cat can cost up to $200.
Feral Cat Friends will hold a clinic this weekend, though all the reservations have been filled. Slots are reserved by calling the organization's phone number and leaving a message, and a representative will call back to set up a spot at the next event, McKeen said.
Trapping, spaying or neutering, and vaccinating the animals reduces the health risks associated with feral cats while preventing further procreation, McKeen said. It is also more effective than euthanizing cats, as they are replaced new animals and an established, healthy colony will keep away other feral cats, she said.
“This is an extreme issue,” McKeen said. “There are cats everywhere.”
Rita Sarnicola, owner of the Auburn-based Animal Resource Center, said the community needs some sort of comprehensive program that includes cooperation from the city and county.
Sarnicola said one of the best ways to face the issue of feral cats is to educate citizens in responsible pet ownership. That means taking the initiative and spaying and neutering your own animals so they don't make the problem worse, she said.
“Otherwise it is like putting your finger on a dike,” said Sarnicola, who recently organized her own drive to have a number of local feral cats caught, spayed or neutered, and released.
Tompkins County has a community program run through the local SPCA. The organization holds spay and neuter clinics on Tuesdays, and one Sunday, a month for residents who have trapped stray cats. The SPCA will even loan out a trap, according to director Abigail Smith.
Smith said the program is a popular one, and participants take care of about 30 cats a week, though many of those are also pets of low-income families. Such a program is not cheap, she said, and the county helps pay for it.
“We needed a very aggressive and consistent approach to the problem, and this is a great place to start,” Smith said.
Barber said she does not like the idea of catching feral cats herself, especially without knowing whether they carry diseases. However, she also said she is willing to participate in any sort of program if it can help remove the unwanted cats from her property.
“I'm just one person, and this is a widespread problem,” Barber said. “But I am willing to do whatever it takes.”
Staff writer Christopher Caskey can be reached at 253-5311 ext. 282 or christopher.caskey@lee.net.
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karl wrote on Jul 15, 2008 4:11 PM:
nature lover wrote on Jul 15, 2008 1:52 PM:
I hate cats...
And on the contrary, I have excellent conversations on the phone with our local powers that be on a regular basis. In fact they make a point to call me back.
U know what it means to A$$/U/ME? Dont peg me as irrational and how I conduct myself? U come to conclusion from a small hometown blog? Grow up sweetheart and realize there are MANY fish to fry in this big bad world and I am sorry that I dont share even 1/10th of your notions about saving cats because my crusades are much more grandiose than that. Super hilarious...
as I said last post: GL on your cat crusade...omg there is venom spewing ALL over this keyboard..h e l p! ! ! "
thinksensibly wrote on Jul 15, 2008 12:48 PM:
My guess is your calls are ignored because of the irrational way you conduct yourself. Clearly, you are unwilling to listen to anyone else's suggestions.
What strikes me about all your posts is not only do you seem angry at the FERAL cats who cause you understandable frustration.. but people like FG, CM and myself, who are taking responsibility for the population. This only leads me to believe you just simply hate cats.
CM: My thanks to you for the website addresses. Also, thank you and your daughter and all the other good, caring people who ARE making an effort to get their animals fixed and reduce the population in a positive way. "
nature lover wrote on Jul 15, 2008 11:55 AM:
Sorry FG, I had that # but lost it. When I did call there was an answering machine and no one retn'd my call. Try calling cornell vet hospital or a couple county spcas to c if perhaps they have the #.... "
thinksensibly wrote on Jul 15, 2008 11:38 AM:
I apologize to any farmers I might have offended. I certainly did not mean to direct my comment at every farmer... obviously Farmer's Gal, you and Farmer's Guy are good and caring people, as I'm sure a lot of farmers are... and it is you who is put upon by others that drop them off.
However, in our area... there are a few farmers who just let them go.. and go.
Again, my apologies. "
Farmer's Gal wrote on Jul 15, 2008 11:19 AM:
I have a good friend with a big old farmhouse in a small town in this area who always has at least a dozen cats. They are incredibly well cared-for -- pans cleaned a couple times daily, shots annually, twice-a-year check-ups as well as any health problems addressed immediately. It's not the number of cats, it's the care they get that determines if they are "stinky, ratty" animals, or lovely pets.
Farmer Guy and I are currently caring for plus/minus 15-20 cats (not counting the 4 totally tame pet cats at my house). We have three that live regularly in the house but then also another 3-5 who are tame enough to come in sometimes. These all are fixed or scheduled to be fixed and well-cared for. Then there are a few more who are semi-tame -- you can get sort of close, some you can pet, others you can't touch but I am working on getting them to be more trusting. You are right, thinksensibly, it takes a lot of time and some of them never trust you enough to let you pick them up. Then there are another handful who come around and eat and live in the barn, but won't let you near. And finally, there are two new ones, recently dumped or wandered in from the wild, who are so feral they sneak in at night to eat, and run away the second a human comes around at all -- they are like ghosts and I can't even tell you exactly what they look like (one is orange, one or perhaps two others are tabby-types).
At least out here in the country they aren't messing anyone else's yard except Farmer Guy's -- which is an added impetus to get as many fixed as possible. I think he would be happy with about half a dozen cats, fixed and healthy, to keep rodents out of the silo and barns - just wish we could get the number down to that many.
I still have to find that phone number for the clinic, to see if we are actually still signed up and to get the details so we can try to catch a few and get them fixed at this better rate. "
thinksensibly wrote on Jul 15, 2008 11:12 AM:
You say you are educated and respected, why not use those abilities?
Please know, I understand and DO sympathize with your frustrations.. I just don't agree with your idea of how to solve it. But it is unfair to you, as it is to the business owner in this article.
So.. here is my idea. Why not use your "experience" to help educate others?
Why not make some signs explaining the hardships that the overpopulation has caused you (cleaning up, allergies, etc). Makes some signs to encourage people to ADOPT a stray because of the overpopulation, to spay and neuter, etc.
I would encourage you to do this on a professional level perhaps leaving out words such as "crap" and "rodent".
This would be a low cost, safe way for you to take action.
As for businesses, another thought I've had over the course of these posts, would be for them to get together and perhaps each offer some incentive for each cat's spay/neuter certficate brought to the business. Owners could work with their distributors for help on promotions.
Example, one week, a business might offer a free soda upon the receipt of a certificate (having to be redeemed within that same week, so people don't try to take advantage). The next week, a free carwash, a free (or discounted) bag of cat food/litter... something along those lines that would encourage the spay and neuter program or adoption from the SPCA.
These are just random thoughts, but I do believe that if we combine all the efforts of licensing, the programs available and my ideas, we could really make a difference in getting this under control and keeping it under control. "
nature lover wrote on Jul 15, 2008 11:02 AM:
thinksensibly wrote on Jul 15, 2008 10:27 AM:
What have you accomplished by your actions? Has it solved the problem? No. Obviously, it hasn't made you feel any better, and honestly, my impression is you have a screw loose if you are truly throwing cat feces back in your neighbor's yard. You admit yourself, it makes you irrational, and that is clear proof. It solves nothing, and only serves to anger your neighbor.. which takes even further away from a solution.
I would like to believe that there are enough decent people in our community who are willing to help. I've found it to be a great "project" and life's lesson to teach my children to care for animals, the responsibilities that are involved and the importance of getting animals fixed.
As for your claim that these cats are so "dangerous"... have you happened to notice the number of Pitbulls that are walking around in Auburn? "
cm wrote on Jul 15, 2008 10:24 AM:
She had a mama staying on her porch,after delivery she found homes for all 6 kittens, and mama is now fixed..
There was no adoption fee, only show proof they are fixed/micro-chipped within 3 months.
Or be FINED by the county.
my daughter went to the SPCA but the cost of adoption was way too high 90.00, plus inspection of your home 2ce a year, and approval by your landlord.
Thru the feral program her kitten will cost 45.00 (shots,fix,micro-chip) and she has saved an animal.
The responsibility belongs to the owners, who especially think FG has enough room on the farm and dumps their pets!
The costs of licensing (dogs) is getting too high-I think more would do it if it was lowered-should this become law on cats I think there will be more dump-offs to farms.
Yet micro-chipping should be mandatory, as it is here (on outdoor cats or 500.00 fine)
I think it should be for all dogs and cats.
One way to hold an owner accountable and another to aid if the pet lost. "
cm wrote on Jul 15, 2008 10:02 AM:
http://www.alleycat.org/resources.html
http://www.lovethatcat.com/spayneuter.html
http://www.lovethatcat.com/stny.html "
nature lover wrote on Jul 15, 2008 8:19 AM:
To euthanize is unpopular but how are you gonna get a handle on it so that a valid catch, fix, release program will work? What are your low cost suggestions? People can bearly feed their kids. There is NO way u are gonna get the public to take care of these as a whole. Time to wake up!! "
thinksensibly wrote on Jul 15, 2008 6:15 AM:
Its great to know other areas are finding solutions in a humane way. "
froggylady wrote on Jul 15, 2008 1:13 AM:
I also think that people that are hoarding these animals and feeding them should also be fined. They are not helping this problem at all.
I also think that city officials should respond to phone calls when they are received, to help address this situation.
Don't we have some kind of "kennel license" law here?
If not one should be instated and be held to very seriously!!
If the same people are fined over and over again then eventually maybe they will learn. "
cm wrote on Jul 14, 2008 10:29 PM:
They catch/fix/rabies shot/ and release.
this has made a huge difference.
We also have clinics for any income that go around to local pet stores 2ce a month where a rabies shot is only 10.00 the same for micro-chipped.
And one can apply for a "fix" fee which is 25.00 thru several local vets.
My daughter used this program and from mailing in the Application to Done took 2 weeks.
I have all my cats(4) fixed and micro-chipped--which is also the LAW here. "
thinksensibly wrote on Jul 14, 2008 10:20 PM:
ANDY B: By all means STARVE a living creature to death, making it more mean and MORE susceptible to disease.. putting other humans at risk as well.
As for you "nature lover"... your post suggesting that the solution is to euthanize cats is hateful and frankly, stupid. That doesn't solve the problem.. it only encourages people, not to take responsibility for their own pet or a stray.. it teaches them that animals are disposable and "no worries" if they lose interest. Wrong answer.
I "thank you" for your concern of the fact that 10 cats seems excessive... however if you change their litter box and bedding... or in more simple terms, take CARE of the animals you own, its really not "repulsively stinky". The 10 I own are contained in an outdoor pen.. but that is as many as I can take. Others I've managed to catch, fix and release. I leave food out and most return regularly and over time become friendly enough that I can easily catch them when it is time for their next set of shots. Naturally, I'd love to be able to keep them all..but feel I've given them a better chance at life, as well as the benefit of making sure they are fixed.
To everyone, there is no question or disagreement that the feral cat population is out of control and a major problem. But when people can only rant about the animal (who is really just an innocent victim in it all) and suggest euthanizing them as opposed to dealing with where the problem comes from (the people dropping the kitties at the farms, etc).. it makes me sick. Call me a bleeding heart, I don't care. I'd save any animals life, just as sure as I would save a human life.
And.. yes there is the SPCA and other organizations.. but they too are on overload and doing everything they can. These organizations are not made of money either. That's where our community CAN help. Every cat that's fixed DOES make a difference.
Licensing cats is not a bad idea... again, the solution to this problem isn't going to happen overnight. The overpopulation happened quickly..but over time. Everything helps...slow but sure.
To turn your back on any living creature is a shame. "
Farmer's Gal wrote on Jul 14, 2008 6:36 PM:
I called in and signed up for this clinic a month and a half ago, and they said they'd call me back to let me know the dates and to provide Have-a-Heart traps (because some of these cats are NOT catchable by amateurs) -- but I have never heard a word back. This in the paper today is the first I've heard since I signed up back in May and I hope I can still find the phone number.
I still have to CATCH the feral kitties (without getting my arms and face ripped off), TRANSPORT them to the shelter on the date indicated (if I can get it confirmed since I didn't get a call), PAY $25 for each male and $40 for each female (which is way below what you'd pay at the vet, but adds up if you have 20-25 cats in your barn) and get them back home again, caring for the females in particular until they are healed.
And even that much isn't going to work if they can't get me the traps in a timely fashion and even then, it's dependent on the cats being stupid enough to get trapped (we aren't talking about possums here, these are CATS, intelligent animals, clever enough to have survived in the wild and semi-wild).
I'm with Ms. Barber -- I am not too keen on having to catch some of these feral kitties myself, not knowing if they have diseases or how freaked out they'll be if I try to pick one up, even with gloves and a towel, or in a cage, or what-have-you.
Meanwhile, some predator has been picking off the outdoor kitties at Farmer Guy's place, esp. the kittens and more tame ones, which has me rather upset. Wish I could have gotten them in to be fixed, tamed and living closer to the house back when I first called in. I know it's "cheaper" for us to just have them gone, but I don't like it.
(This time of year, it's enough of a battle (and expense) keeping the more tame kitties who come into the house worm- and flea-free).
Meanwhile, the SPCA is not in the business of trap-neuter-release, as the Feral Cats Friends are -- they are two separate organizations each providing needed and complimentary (not overlapping) services. Having the city help support their efforts is a positive response to residents' complaints and need not be any more expensive than having them euthanized -- and it WILL save on the negative PR the latter program would bring about.
And, of course, none of the above counts the four domestic house cats who live at MY place -- but mine are either exclusively or mostly indoor kitties, which helps.
BTW, cats are just not like dogs and licensing them is just silly. Most of the cats at question here don't HAVE owners to buy them licenses, and for people struggling to get a feral colony under population control, a license fee is just another expense per animal we can't afford.
THINK SENSIBLY -- since you have the experience, if you would be willing to help us capture kitties for this clinic, let me know the best way to get you my contact info so we can hook up and catch some of these kitties at Farmer Guy's place. We'll be paying for the fixing, but could sure use help with the capturing and transporting. "
james_13021 wrote on Jul 14, 2008 5:33 PM:
Andy b wrote on Jul 14, 2008 3:45 PM:
nature lover wrote on Jul 14, 2008 2:54 PM:
There are SOOO many ratty, diseased feral cats running around this town that they are vermin. Would u like to c a child get bit or how about the other health risks they pose? I for one cant be w/i a few feet of one or my corneas get fluid filled cysts on them and I must administer anesthetic eye drops.
I know Baldwinsville had posed to their city council not to long ago to make it illegal to feed feral cats and I feel that is what Auburn needs. Catch and EUTHANIZE till we get a handle on this problem.
How many cats are u willing to "take in'? 10 seems excessive now...and repulsively stinky "
Kathy wrote on Jul 14, 2008 1:58 PM:
thinksensibly wrote on Jul 14, 2008 1:45 PM:
While I COMPLETELY understand the frustration... your rant should be directed to the farmers who have "barn cats". I cringe when I hear that, because that's nothing more than an excuse to have cats that don't require feeding and not to spay and neuter! Also, if you TRULY want the problem to stop, why not rant at the irresponsible people in this world who buy that "cute little kitten" then forget about it when its grown... and don't BOTHER taking it to get it fixed, shots, etc. An animal is no different than a child, if you have one, you should be committed to its wellbeing. For some reason, people don't understand that.
PEOPLE need to be held responsible because its the HUMAN POPULATION who has created and allowed the ANIMAL POPULATION to get out of control.
Feral cats are no different than any other breathing being. Its not THEIR fault, they are only trying to survive. Think of the life they are subjected to... having to "scrap" for food and defend themselves against other animals, the elements of weather and the mean humans of this world...
No.. PEOPLE need to take responsibility. There are such a thing as live traps... if 1/2 the population of Auburn would catch ONE cat and get it fixed, and get its shots, it would make a HUGE difference. Its not that expensive and you'd be doing a HUMANE service.
I can say this.. I've saved over 10 cats doing just this very thing. BUT... I'm only ONE person. I've kept as many as I can, but am now at the point of getting them fixed and shots.. and leaving food out for them.
You can't whine and complain unless you're willing to do something that makes a long-lasting, positive difference. Taking care of the human mistake is the FIRST step by caring for the animals. TEACHING society that this is not acceptable is the SECOND step.
And PLEASE... stop with the blame directed the programs designed to help with feral cats... they are doing everything they can. If people would take responsibility, it would certainly slow the population down. "
nature lover wrote on Jul 14, 2008 1:05 PM:
James 13021 spca is overloaded with cats, no room. A feral gave birth under my garage and I called nope on the spca, nope on thh feral cats, they dont respond. Euthanize the danged disease ridden crappy pests!!!!!! "
gh0st wrote on Jul 14, 2008 1:03 PM:
james_13021 wrote on Jul 14, 2008 12:49 PM:
Don't they respond and pick up these strays anymore??? "