Colusa County Animal Control today revealed that it will no longer be accepting the general public surrender of roaming or feral cats due to what it called “increased sheltering requirements accompanied by limited staff and resources.”
According to the shelter, 1,890 cats have actually been taken in because 2020.
“Each cat must be held for 72 hours to give owners a chance to claim them. In fact, only four were claimed by owners, and only 333 were rehomed,” authorities connected with the shelter said in a declaration. “Holding stray and feral cats, many of which are dangerous and/or ill, exposes adoptable cats to disease and exposes staff to stress and possible injury. The intake and care for each cat takes away valuable time and resources that could otherwise be used finding homes for adoptable cats and dogs or providing crucial field services to the public.”
To help decrease the quantity of roaming or feral cats in the Colusa County location, authorities suggest that the general public avoid feeding them.
“Feral cats are unsocialized and afraid of humans,” authorities said. “To survive independently, they will find their own food sources through means of hunting. Feeding them conditions them to depend partially on humans who are not taking full responsibility for them. They can become a nuisance to people and a threat to the health and well-being of owned cats.”
Along with withstanding the desire to feed the felines, Colusa County Animal Control likewise suggested the practice of spaying or neutering cats who are already owned to avoid undesirable litters of kittens and lower the interaction of owned and roaming or feral cats.
Officials said if a resident discovers a cat that gets along and healthy, then that cat might already be owned and “should be allowed to return home on its own.”
For cats discovered to be hurt, authorities said citizens must call Colusa County Animal Control so that somebody with the department can examine the circumstance.
“Many kittens are picked up during ‘kitten season’ (June to August), although their mother is still caring for them,” authorities said. “Cat mothers leave their young for up to 6 hours at a time. Removing kittens or keeping close watch may result in unnecessary separation of kittens from their best resource for survival, their mother. Concerned citizens can monitor kittens from a distance before Animal Services is called.”
Colusa County Animal Control said a method it utilizes for dealing with neighborhood cat populations is the Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage (TNRM) program, which authorities said can be reliable at discovering a balance in between the requirements of neighborhood cats and human beings.
“In TNRM programs, registered colony managers trap cats; bring them to a designated clinic for spaying/neutering, ear notching, vaccination, and microchipping; return them to their colony; and care for and monitor the cats,” authorities said. “For TNRM to be effective, cat colonies must be carefully managed and monitored by responsible citizens.”
For those thinking about handling a cat nest in their community, contact Colusa County Animal Control at 530-458-0229.