Grahamstown Feral Cat Project
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The Grahamstown Feral Cat Project (GFCP) was established in 2009 by caring members of the community. Various Rhodes University staff and students support the GFC efforts on campus - Grahamstown Feral Cat Project info poster:
- Trap, Neuter & Release (TNR): Volunteers humanely trap feral cats, take them to the vet to be spayed or neutered; a small V (for ‘victory’) is made in the tip of the ear to identify those that have been sterilized. They then return the cats to their colonies to live out their lives.
- Best Solution: TNR is globally recognised as the least costly, most efficient, humane and sustainable way of stabilizing feral cat populations.
- GFCP Caretakers: Volunteers may 'adopt a colony', provide food and adequate shelter and monitor the feral cats' health.
The project is independent of any other organisation: it relies on the assistance of Grahamstown Veterinary Clinic and on donations from the public.
At UWC, a similar Feral Cat Project (TufCat) has been running with great success for many years. Research has shown TNR to be a more sustainable - and humane - approach to managing feral cat populations. Feral cats perform a useful function in controlling problem rodents. The paper, Evaluation of the effect of a long-term trap-neuter-return and adoption program on a free-roaming cat population, describes a study of 155 free-roaming cats on a university campus; the cats were trapped, neutered, then adopted or returned; the population decreased by 66% over 11 years. By contrast, removal of feral cats (through euthanasia etc) merely opens up their territory to other breeding individuals that continue to produce kittens, resulting in unsustainable population growth. This letter is attributed to a vet: Today I spayed a cat.
Get involved in the ACTION
If you are interested in the Grahamstown Feral Cat Project, here are some ways to help:
- Make regular donations - food or money: GRAHAMSTOWN VETERINARY CLINIC, Standard Bank account 081991215, Branch Code 050917; be sure to give the REFERENCE: W/CAT + Your Name (if possible, email Lynne or Lorna - to ensure donations are correctly allocated).
No donation is too small - nor too big for that matter! All funds go directly to the care of the cats.
- TNR: Assist with Trap-Neuter-Release activities.
- Caretaking: Become a cat colony caretaker.
- Role-modelling: Practice responsible pet ownership.
- Awareness-raising: Raise public awareness about animal welfare.
- Fundraising: Volunteer a little of your time to help raise funds.
Need MORE INFO?
- Contact Lynne on lynne(at)gfcp.info, or Lorna on lorna(at)gfcp.info
- Visit the GFCP website.
- Related issues: Dealing with other animals on campus
Go to the Rhodes University ENVIRONMENT front page. Suggestions/Questions? Contact environment(at)ru.ac.za
