Community Cat Program aims to better local cat population

BOWLING GREEN, Ky. – The Bowling Green-Warren County Humane Society took on the responsibility of managing community cats in 2019 with the creation of the Community Cat Program.

Community cats, often considered feral or stray, though workers prefer to call them un-owner or semi-owned cats, often breed uncontrollably and can be detrimental to local songbird populations. They can also take part in various nuisance behaviors that can be annoying and difficult for homeowners to manage.

The program takes the humane approach, manager Emily Cochran says, by using a trap, neuter/spay, release method.

“The Community Cat program is an effort to meet a need for un-owned or semi-owned cats and the focus is on sterilization so that spay or neuter we want to stop the reproduction of the outdoor cat population and while we have them in our care, they’re also going to receive, you know, basic vaccinations and health care that’s going to extend their life expectancy and their quality of life as well,” Cochran said.

In leaving the cats where they found them after the TNR process, it allows the cats to remain happy, healthy and reduces nuisance behaviors. It also dramatically reduces shelter intake and the need for euthanasia says Cochran.

“When you start a Community Cat program, your euthanasia declines immediately, which we’ve seen a dramatic a 69% reduction in euthanasia among cats, which is wonderful. And then the next thing you want to see is a reduction in intakes of stray intakes. And we’ve seen a 35% reduction in straight intakes, which is great,” Cochran said.

This is hard work that requires a great deal of nuance and trust building. After all, these are often wild animals, even though they might resemble cute house cats. In reality, they are more akin to a raccoon one might see in the woods and should not be approached or picked up. That trust building extends to people in the community, and one of the CCP workers, Margaret Whittington, says that this is one of the best parts of her job.

“I’m a crazy cat lady. So yeah, I think I kind of got into it knowing that it would be interpersonal, knowing that we have to work with people to get their trust because like Emily [Cochran] mentioned, people think that we’re just going to take their cats and not ever bring them back. I was like, I don’t I’m not kidnaping your cats. I’m here to help the cats and I want them to live a healthier life,” Whittington said.

At the end of the day, the work is for the community as much as it is for the cats, and this labor of love means that both are able to be better because of it. The work of three people in and around many neighborhoods and lots around Warren County makes homes, cats and even the environment better.

“It is really meaningful. It’s because we’re we’re coming from a place of compassion as well. It’s not just, well, there’s too many cats and then something needs to be done about it. It’s we’re reaching out and trying to help the cats lives be healthier and have them like improve their quality of life while also helping people in the community,” Whittington said.