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Our Programs One of CPRs largest programs is our feral cat program that we have developed to help get under control the feral cat populations living in our state, local parks and surrounding communities. Although, there is no precise definition of a feral cat, they are abandoned house cats that are too unsocialized to be kept in a typical pet home. They are often born in the wild and are afraid of people from lack of human contact. They usually live in colonies near any food source that they can find in neighborhoods, alleyways, apartment complexes, behind restaurants, on college and hospital campuses. Unchecked breeding, with females spending most of their lives pregnant or nursing, results in feral cat overpopulation even though half of the kittens die soon after birth.
Feral cats are a great challenge for our park's system cities and humane organizations because they comprise a huge percentage of the pet overpopulation problem in America and a large percentage of cats euthanized by animal shelters. Many end up at animal control agencies at a large cost to taxpayers and an emotional burden to shelter workers. Recently, a few agencies around the country have begun promoting the benefits of trap/neuter/return programs including reduction of animal shelter costs, impoundments, cat complaints, and number of cats euthanized.
Most experts agree that the best and most humane way to manage this population of cats and gradually reduce their numbers is called the trap/neuter/return method. This method involves spaying and neutering the cats and returning them to their environment to be overseen by caretakers.
This approach is accepted by well-respected institutions and organizations including the American Veterinary Medical Association, Texas A&M University and Tufts University veterinary schools, Stanford University, and the San Francisco SPCA. This method involves trapping and having the cats spayed or neutered, then returning them to the environment they came from and looked after by caretakers.
CPR goe's a step farther we trap and domestiate feral cats. Through blood sweat and tears we are able to make loving house pets out of most feral cat's. For those that cant be domesticated We believe there is a safer and better solution. Feral cats are not born to survive in nature to forage for food on their own, they deserve our compassion companionship and protection. By having these cats spayed and neutered and placed in permenant BARN homes, it's a win win situation for both the Farmer and animal. The animals reduce the dammage done by rodents and pests. The farmers in return provide food human companionship and shelter to the cat. The existing colonies will be healthier, and their numbers will stabilize or gradually reduce through attrition.
Because these cats originate as domestic animals, they are not intended to survive in nature on their own they deserve our compassion and protection and we feel this is a better solution to colonization, all be it better than nothing being done at all..
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