1. THE CLINTON COUNTY COMMUNITY CATS PROJECT OR – THE TRUE STORY OF WHAT REALLY HAPPENED TO MY EAR!

2. BACKGROUND WE HAVE A PROBLEM!

3. More than 2,000 births in just 4 years… AND…More than 2 MILLION in 8 years! OVERPOPULATION WHAT’S THE IMPACT OF NOT SPAYING 1 FEMALE CAT & NOT NEUTERING 1 MALE CAT?

4. Ferals Do not vocalize Do not approach humans Typically nocturnal Appear well groomed Do not eat until humans leave Strays May approach people and food May vocalize Appear at all hours “Community Cat” An umbrella definition that includes any un-owned cat SOME OF MY BEST FRIENDS ARE FERAL !

5. 1.More incoming cats than ability to shelter and adopt 2.Feral cats are at greater risk of transferring disease 3.Nuisance in the community Impact on Shelters 1.Standard cat population “control” for decades 2.Little impact on exponential growth 3.TK leads to ‘burnout’ everywhere 4.TK results in high employee turnover 5.TK taints public image 6.Costly 7.Creates VACUUM EFFECT Current Practice: Trap & Kill (TK) TK IS NOT AN OPTION!

6. THE TNR OPTION YOU WILL MEET A NICE DOCTOR IN THE VERY NEAR FUTURE

7. Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) Free-roaming Community and Feral Cats are: Humanely trapped, Sterilized, medically treated, Returned to locations where they were found 1.Reduced Colony Size 2.Controlled Feeding Practices 3.Minimized Behavioral Disturbances 4.Safer Existence for both Residents and Cats RESULTS THANK YOU SPCA AND COMMUNITY FOUNDATION

8. 1.Wrote TNR Guidelines - CCSPCA approved 2.Caregivers follow ALL TNR procedures 3.Door hangers notify neighbors of trapping schedule 4.Cats taken to Beckoning Cat to be Altered, Vaccinated, Treated for Fleas/Worms, etc. 5.Cats returned are Ear-Tipped to identify as Spay/Neutered. Ah Ha! MISSION STATMENT A community effort to protect and improve the lives of cats in Clinton County TNR Community Guidelines

9. IMPLEMENTATION I’M OK…

10. 1.Cats should be at least 8 weeks of age or 2 pounds in order to be spayed/neutered. 2.Cats need to be 12 weeks of age to receive their rabies vaccine. 3.Nursing mother’s kittens must be 4-5 weeks old or eating some solid food before spaying. Trapping Criteria Here Kitty, Kitty, Kitty

11. Trapping Procedure Demo We currently have 75 Traps!Towels Bowls for food and water‘Smelly’ Food

12. The Return Cats are given a sufficient time (typically overnight) to rest post surgery and then are returned to their original habitat Colony caregivers continue to provide food and monitor health issues in the colony

13. COORDINATION WHO YA’ GONNA’ CALL?

14. 1.Call SPCA about TNR 2.Coordinator returns call – Determines eligibility 3.Coordinator locates trained TNR Volunteer to visit Caregiver and explain procedure 4.Coordinator arranges transportation with TNR Volunteer or Caregiver 5.Caregiver traps cats… 6.Caregiver traps cats… 7.Caregiver traps cats… 8.Cats transported TO:FROM Beckoning Cat same day Current Procedure

15. APPLAUSE! Clinton County SPCA - ~300 Cats Trapped/Neutered/Returned Spay Day - ~150 Cats Spayed/Neutered Success: Year 1 (2014) PLUS SPCA Spayed/Neutered More than 200 Cats AND More than 200 Dogs there too! NEW CAT POLICY

16. However: Research suggests that 75% - 80% of reproducing females must be sterilized before population begins to fall. Our Challenge We Know That: A maintained Cat colony will decrease in size or stabilize over time due to the natural elimination of animals and the inability to reproduce. CAN WE TARGET THESE CATS?

17. Identify clusters of kittens (typically 12 or more) from SPCA owner- surrendered cats and TNR records Overlay clusters of kittens – with land use and previous owner-surrendered kittens to target Spay/Neuter effort Cornell University Recommends Using GIS CLINTON COUNTY COMMISSIONERS VOLUNTEERED COUNTY GIS

18. Help Educate EVERYONE about Community Cats Spread the Word that TNR is available in Clinton County – Call SPCA Community Support PLEASE DONATE or VOLUNTEER for TNR

21. CREDITS Sue Glossner Janice Johnson Midge Probst The TNR Cat Judy Yoho THANK YOU SOURCES Alley Cat Allies Hundred Cats Foundation Beckoning Cat Dr. Scarlett – Cornell Univ.