Letters to the Editor: Addressing Storm Lake’s cat problem

It’s no surprise that Storm Lake has a feral (community) cat problem. Implementing a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program will decrease Storm Lake’s feral cat population while saving cats’ lives and improving their health. Although the terms ‘feral’ and ‘community’  are often used interchangeably, there are subtle differences. Community cats may have lived with people until they were abandoned by their owners and may be more adoptable than feral cats. Feral cats, on the other hand, are born wild, have never lived with people and are rarely adoptable. ‘Feral cats’ will be used in this essay.

Simply removing cats by euthanizing or relocating, does not remediate the problem. Cats multiply quickly, a single female cat can have 3-4 litters of up to eight kittens each year during her reproductive life. Kittens reach reproductive maturity at 4 months of age. Removals from cat populations are quickly filled and the cat problem persists.

TNR is a humane and effective approach for reducing numbers of feral cats. It stops cats from breeding, stabilizes cat populations, helps cats stay healthy, and improves their relationships with people. TNR is good for cats, good for people, and good for our community.

When TNR is used, fewer cats are brought to animal shelters, which means fewer cats are euthanized. Instead of an endless cycle of impounding cats in shelters, caregivers can instead focus on the life-saving work of caring for cats, which in turn leads to a reduction in feline illnesses associated with overcrowding.

Cities across the U.S. conduct TNR programs. Alley Cat Allies has assisted and tracked more than 650 communities that have adopted TNR policies and ordinances. Concerned citizens in Storm Lake have recently established the Caring Paws Rescue to address the feral cat problem, strays, and to educate the public on proper care of dogs and cats. We will work with residents to identify cat colonies and to capture, spay/neuter, vaccinate, and chip cats before returning them to the point of capture. These procedures will stabilize cat populations and will in time reduce the numbers of cats by stopping breeding and will prevent feline disease transmission.

Several things have to come together before we can implement TNR in Storm Lake. A city ordinance will have to be changed to allow this process to begin. We need to purchase live traps. We need to train volunteers. We need citizens, especially those who are currently feeding feral cats, to help us identify cat colonies. We need to make scheduled arrangements with local veterinarians for neutering/spaying. After we can move forward, one colony at a time, we will feed, trap, transport for surgery, neuter, vaccinate, ID chip, and return cats to capture locations. We will communicate our progress with the public as we reach significant milestones.

Bob Blodgett

TNR Program, Caring Paws Rescue

Stopping on red

I have gone to city hall about 3-4 times. The last time I left a note for the administrator in regards to the light by Malarky’s at the corner of Park Street and Flindt Drive. 

Why has that light been on a timer for such a long time? There is hardly any traffic coming across but it changes on a timely basis. I'm pretty sure this was happening last summer, then it might have been fixed for a while. Cars have to stop continually up and down Flindt. I drive a RIDES bus and van, since 2004, and contend with it all the time.

Alex Kazos

Storm Lake

From Bird to Bluder

Your editorials ran the gamut on May 17, all the way from Bird to Bluder. The former, an Iowan to be scorned, the latter one we can all cheer and salute, as you rightly noted. Our current Attorney General will one day rate nothing more than a footnote in Iowa history. But the recently retired coach’s career highlights are the stuff of our state’s folklore.

Mike Wellman 

Des Moines