Local Organizations Address Stray Cat Overpopulation in Southeast Ohio

Mary Connolly, the executive director of the Athens County Humane Society, has overseen the organization for a year and a half. Her responsibilities include managing communications, reaching out to donors, assisting individuals with injured animals, and coordinating bi-monthly spay-neuter clinics.

Before a neuter appointment, traps are set out to acclimate the cats, and by the appointment day, they are captured and taken directly to the clinic. Cats are typically returned to their communities within 24 hours after the procedure. Connolly noted, “We're improving, hopefully, the lives of many animals because they're getting basic care, like their vaccines. And also, there's less fighting amongst cats when they're spayed and neutered.”

Feline fighting can contribute to the spread of diseases such as feline immunodeficiency virus, which compromises the immune system, and panleukopenia, which attacks essential white blood cells necessary for fighting off infections. The Athens County Humane Society collaborates with the Athens Vet Clinic as part of their TNR initiatives.

Feral Ladies Cat Rescue is an all-female nonprofit organization located in Hocking County. Founded by Elizabeth Hoskins, the group operates without paid staff. Hoskins became involved with cat rescue after caring for a colony near a local Walmart in Logan, Ohio, learning to trap cats to connect them with veterinarians for neutering.

“One mom cat can have up to 20-plus kittens in a year, and then kittens can breed as young as four months,” Hoskins explained, emphasizing the urgency of spaying and neutering. It is also crucial for the cats to be returned to their original locations. Connolly mentioned that keeping community cats in shelters can negatively impact their mental health.

If a cat trapped is found to be non-feral, efforts are made to find it a home. “Feral cats will basically die trying to make it back to where they came from,” Hoskins stated. However, Connolly added that those with severe injuries or orphaned kittens are kept for care. Feral Ladies Cat Rescue charges a $100 adoption fee, while Athens County Humane Society’s fees range from $75 to $150 based on the cat's age.

Sara Strongosky, president of All Nine Lives, an organization supporting the Athens County Humane Society, expressed the community's struggle with stray cats due to limited resources. Recently, All Nine Lives organized events to support local shelters. “We live in a financially unstable part of Ohio where there is a stray problem, and there aren't a lot of resources to get it under control,” Strongosky said.

Strongosky advised against adopting stray cats directly, suggesting it’s better to contact the humane society. Their next initiative involves constructing cat shelters, which Strongosky emphasized as a vital project.

To report stray cats in Athens County, contact the Athens County Humane Society at (740) 592-6047. For Hocking County, reach out to Feral Ladies Cat Rescue via their Facebook page or email at [email protected].