Press Releases

October 13, 2006
For Immediate Release
Contact:  Michelle Pintar
Phone:  (414) 431-6104
E-mail:  mpintar@wihumane.org

Was That a Cat That Just Darted By?
October 16 is National Feral Cat Day; WHS Promotes Trap-Neuter-Return

 MILWAUKEE – You see cats in allies, sitting under bushes and running through the neighborhood.  Where are their cat's guardians?  Who worries about their care?  These amazing creatures found in our neighborhoods may be feral or unsocialized cats and without our help their population will continue to increase in Milwaukee County. 

To honor National Feral Cat Day on October 16, the Wisconsin Humane Society stresses that Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) is the only humane method that has shown a reasonable chance of controlling feral cat populations in urban environments like Milwaukee.  TNR means that cats are trapped, spayed/neutered and re-released into a supervised colony.

Trap-Neuter-Return offers numerous advantages, including helping to end the breeding of more unwanted cats and helping neighbors to live more harmoniously with the cats.  Other benefits of TNR include helping to return socialized cats at large to their homes, or to new homes through adoption; and decreasing the cost to government animal control for their care and being more humanitarian.    

Since city ordinances currently restrict TNR, few alternatives exist to reduce the cat population. WHS is encouraging members of the community to voice their support.  The community can do the following:

·           Spay/neuter your own companion animal and keep your cat indoors.

·           Educate your friends, family and neighbors about feral cats, cat overpopulation and TNR.

·           Tell your Alderperson that you support changes to local ordinances that would allow TNR in Milwaukee.

·           If you have a feral cat problem in your neighborhood, meet with neighbors to discuss it or become a Community Cat Caregiver.  To find out more, call (414) 431-6CAT.   

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Photo/Interview Opportunity:   Paris and her five 8-week-old litter of kittens are free-roaming feral cats found in an alley by a junk collector. To photograph the kittens or talk with Jill DeGrave with the Wisconsin Humane Society about TNR on Monday, October 16 before 2:30 p.m., contact Michelle Pintar at (414) 431-6104.