THERE'S A NEW KID IN TOWN

THERE'S A NEW KID IN TOWN

March 2018

We've all been there at one time or another, just driving along, when out of the corner of your eye you catch a glimpse of a cat alongside of the road. It appears afraid, cold, and hungry. As you pass by, it runs back into the bushes and disappears. Was it lost? Was it abandoned? Was it feral? You think about pulling over, but instead you drive on.

...

On his ventures about town, my friend and neighbor, Pete Stiglich, had seen this sad situation time and time again. His heart went out to each lonely cat that he saw. Pete, being a cat lover by nature, (having, himself, taken in eight strays in the past few years) had seen enough!

As he began to delve into this sad state of affairs, he discovered the community cat problem in Shasta county to be huge! Cat colonies were everywhere!

Just what is a community cat, you ask. Well, a community cat is defined as a free roaming cat that is feral, or one that has previously been a family pet but is now, by some sort of ill fate, a stray, lost, or has been abandoned. Pete knew that he must come up with a plan to help these homeless, defenseless cats.

The first order of business was to form a committee of responsible, compassionate volunteers who are individuals and organizations committed to improving the lives of the thousands of community cats in Shasta County.

They let no grass grow! Moving rapidly forward, this group became a non-profit 501(c)(3) under the name of Community Cat Care Coalition (CCCC). This coalition's goal is to spay and neuter community cats and offer such services to owners who otherwise could not afford to alter their own family cat.

Using the T.N.R. Strategy, cats will be Trapped, Neutered, and Returned to their colony, moved to a safer location, put in foster care, or possibly adopted out. This TNR program is already being successfully implemented by several individuals and groups throughout Shasta County, many of which are now joining forces with the CCCC. Eventually their efforts will lead to a significant reduction in cat colony populations.

The need for the CCCC is huge. Kitten season is upon us NOW! An unspayed female colony cat may give birth as young as 5 months of age. As soon as her kittens are weaned, she will become pregnant again. She is capable of having 3 litters per year, 5-6 kittens in each litter. Every few minutes a new litter is born, continuing this seemingly endless cycle.

Each day thousands of community cats struggle for survival. They face starvation, illness, predators, and harsh weather.

Colony cat over-population is a crisis that is everyone's responsibility. (Remember – in all instances it is human-caused.) The general public, elected officials, veterinarians, and local businesses can all play a role. The coalition's success depends on volunteers and funding. Their immediate needs include help identifying colonies, trappers, foster parents, bottle feeders, veterinary assistance, cat food, grants, cat supplies, and of course, monetary donations.

Please help the CCCC reach their goal by donating to their very worthwhile cause. 100% of your donation will go directly to spaying, neutering, medical supplies, and general care of local community cats. Because of the CCCC, there is a light at the end of the tunnel. For more information please contact Pete Stiglich at 530-347-6431 or email him at catcoalition@yahoo.com.