Cats gone wild. Kootenai Humane Society trying to curb feral cat population

A bulging plastic bag sits in the parking lot of a grocery store. The bag moves and a gentle meow is heard. Three one-month old kittens are found huddled inside. Still very much alive, they are brought to Kootenai Humane Society.

It’s a  sad but familiar story. Unwanted kittens are abundant in Kootenai County and surrounding areas. Nobody knows how many free-roaming or feral cats live here, but there could be up to 12,000 feral cats in Kootenai County, said Vicky Nelson, Development Director of the Kootenai Humane Society.

“We anticipate ferals to be a larger problem than we know,” said Nelson. “We’re working hard to reduce the free-roaming cat population, but we need the public’s help.”

Kootenai County Animal Control Officer Sandra Osburn said she agrees there is a problem with cat populations, but notes there’s little the county can do because there are no laws requiring cat licensing or restricting cat movements.

“Every day I witness so many cats running loose, no matter where in the county I travel. And that is without looking for them,” said Osburn. “It would be virtually impossible to determine how many of those are actually feral.  We receive multiple complaints weekly about all the cats running loose and are questioned about what can be done.”

To combat the problem, Kootenai Humane Society has the trap/neuter/release program to slow down the overpopulation of free-roaming cats. The program was established over 10 years ago.

Here’s how it works:

People can rent a trap for a small fee, trap the cat, transport it to KHS, have it spayed or neutered – including a rabies shot and an ear-tip - and then return it to where it was found.  Over time, their numbers will diminish.

In 2015, 247 feral cats were processed through the program. The Kootenai Humane Society’s goal is handle twice that many this year with a little help from the community.  If you know of a feral colony, call KHS (208) 772-4019.

“They will give you instructions on how to help curb our community’s feral feline population,” Nelson said. “Kittens can be found in a variety of places, some abandoned by the mother cat, others just learning how to survive.  The one common factor: They continue to multiply.  Free-roaming or feral cats can reproduce several times a year.  Without human intervention, the feral cat population will continue to grow.”

Since KHS is an independent nonprofit organization, financing the program is a challenge.  KHS charges only $15 to have a feral cat sterilized, including the rabies vaccine and ear-tip surgery.  It costs the organization upwards of $50.  

It’s important to note that sterile cats roaming free can be beneficial.

“People who live in rural areas love to have a sterile cat live in their barn and do their duty to keep mice and pesky creatures at bay,” says Jennifer Abraham, KHS’s veterinarian technician.  “Feral cats and barns are the perfect match.”

She adds, “Usually, they are not friendly and only want a warm place to stay with food and water.  And that’s what we require when adopting them out.  We call it the barn cat program.  The process works well.  A cat that can be a nuisance for some becomes a blessing for someone else.”