Friday’s Community Connections from Fred newsletter mentions there have been numerous complaints from residents about, “a large number of feral cats in Old Greenwich.”
“In this particular instance it’s a matter of dealing with the property owners and working with them to resolve the problem for the benefit of the neighbors and for the health of the animals,” Camillo’s newsletter said.
Later, on the Friday morning Ask the First Selectman radio show on WGCH 1490AM, executive assistant Ken Borsuk stood in for Mr. Camillo, elaborating on the situation.
Borsuk said the feral cat situation was an ongoing serious problem, and may that may stem back years at the Old Greenwich property. He said there was also an issue in Glenville.
“It’s not just a problem for people. It’s a problem for the animals as well,” Borsuk said, adding that Greenwich Animal Control was doing their best to handle the situation.
Reached by phone on Friday, Greenwich Animal Control Officer Carolyn Smith said that in Old Greenwich, a property owner had been reluctant to let animal control onto their property.
“They keep feeding the cats,” Smith said.
ACO Smith said the feral cat situation was particularly sad.
“What ends up happening is if you have people feeding them, they cross the road and get hit by cars. It’s heartbreaking.”
“Everyone is trying to do the right thing, but it is creating hazards,” she added.
Smith said taking in a feral cat, and then thinking it can be adopted is not as easy as some might think.
First off, she noted that the Greenwich Animal Control facility is at capacity. In fact, she said many municipal shelters and rescues are full.
“Everyone is swamped,” she said.
But a greater challenge she explained was that it takes considerable time to rehabilitate a feral cat.
“That’s a whole different story,” she said. “They might be comfortable eating on your property versus being domesticated enough to be a pet.”
Cats at the Nutmeg Clinic, a low cost spay/neuter clinic in Stratford. File Photo: Leslie Yager
Smith noted there are no laws against roaming cats, but roaming and feral cats take away from the enjoyment of one’s property. And, of course, there are concerns about the wild bird population.
Still, she repeated the overarching goal is to promote spaying and neutering.
The main problem with feral cat colonies is the exponential reproduction that takes place. Gestation for cats is a mere 63 days, and a cat could conceivably have 4-5 litters a year, though 2-3 litters is average. Each litter can have anywhere from from 1-6 kittens; the average size is 4.
A cat can become pregnant the day after she has kittens, and contrary to popular belief, a cat can become pregnant at five or sixth-months of age. Siblings can mate with each other as can parents with their offspring.
ACO Smith said Greenwich Animal Control works with two Stamford based non-profit organizations: Pitter Patter Feline Rescue and Friends of Felines.
Pitter Patter’s goal is to reduce the feral cat population and find loving homes for the abandoned and adoptable kittens.
Friends of Felines provides humane trap-neuter-return (TNR) services, medical care, and food for outdoor community cats.
She also noted the Nutmeg Clinic in Stratford (exit 30 to 626 Surf Ave) is a low cost spay/neuter clinic that operates as a non-profit. Any dog or cat owner can make an appointment.
The Nutmeg Clinic website explains that ferals are unsocialized, wild cats that congregate in colonies and reproduce at an alarming rate.
Learn more about Nutmeg’s help for Feral Cats “Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate, Return (TNVR)” program. Their extra-low cost feral cat package includes spay/neuter surgery, rabies & FVRCP (distemper combination) vaccines, a brief exam, subcutaneous fluids and an ear tip, which is a cut across the top of the left ear to easily denote the cat has been spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Under this program, ear tips are required; there are no exceptions. In addition to the ear tip, your feral cat will receive a small green tattoo on the abdomen, which readily indicates that he/she has been spayed/neutered.
At Nutmeg Clinic a feral cat will receive a small green tattoo on the abdomen to indicate that he/she has been spayed/neutered. Nutmeg Clinic offers low cost low-cost Spay/Neuter for cats and dogs. File Photo: Leslie Yager
Kitten with an ear tip, which is a cut across the top of the left ear to easily denote the cat has been spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Nutmeg Clinic offers low cost low-cost Spay/Neuter for cats and dogs. File Photo: Leslie Yager
Greenwich Animal Control is located at 393 North Street, Greenwich, CT 06830.
Tel: 203-622-8299
Click here for their Petfinder page with animals available for adoption.
To arrange a visit, make sure to call ahead.
A cat at Greenwich Animal Control. File photo: Leslie Yager