by Carolyn Bennett-Hunter

Most experts agree that the best and most humane way to deal with feral cat colonies is to gradually reduce their numbers with the "Trap/Neuter/Return" method. Be sure to check out the article on Caring for Feral Cats found at www.bestfriends.org

Last year five feral cats were rescued from the forest behind us. White Cloud was adopted by me, and now I cannot imagine life without him! His two sisters were adopted by my friend Mardis Hartley. The two adult cats were placed on a farm in Turner. Still, our efforts fell short, as the many new feral kittens born this summer clearly pointed out to us.

So, this year a decision was made to "stick with it" until the entire colony was captured and taken care of (meaning the animal is spayed or neutered, vaccinated, treated for fleas, and has its ear clipped for future identification purposes). Also, we were delighted to learn that all animals tested were found to be free of disease. A journal with pictures of each animal has been kept by me.

Funded in large part by Mardis, and some few donations, there are many whose efforts went into this project. David and our neighbors Joe, Jennifer, Greg and Robin also helped capture many of the feral cats this year, and no one of us could have done this alone. In addition, friends of Mardis have opened their hearts and homes to become foster parents - not only for a pregnant female and her six newborn kittens, but also for the second and third litters of six-week-old kittens captured in the forest this year (neither discovered until after their mothers had already been fixed and returned to their natural habitat). All of these precious kittens either were or soon will be adopted into kind and loving homes.

In all, we dealt with 38 feral cats this year, 21 of which were adopted into kind and loving homes, one which had to be euthanized (very sad), and the remaining 16 released back into the forest they love.

I am the caretaker, and feed food to the colony each day that has been donated by Mardis and others, as well as providing fresh drinking water, and making sure everything is acceptably sanitary and clean.

Although the majority of our customers were caught in conventional humane traps, there were a few crafty ones that required more ingenious humane traps, or just had to be grabbed with leather gloves.

A wind guard and fleece lining have been added to the sleeping shelter since this picture was taken, as well as a thick fleece lined blanket to keep them warm during the cold season.