Mice are a perpetual problem in New York City but the city’s feral cats are stepping up to do their part for pest control. As Mother Nature Network reported, the New York City Feral Cat Initiative (NYCFCI) pairs feral cats with homeowners who would like someone else to handle their mouse issue. For the most part, NYCFCI’s program focuses on trap-neuter-return (TNR). Feral cats are captured, spayed or neutered, given various vaccines and then returned to their original territory. The cats have the tips of their ears sliced a tiny bit while under anesthesia. This is a visual indication that the cat has already undergone the TNR process. NYCFCI processes around 1,000 cats a month.
But the cats aren’t given to just anyone. Humans who “hire” these feral felines from NYCFCI also have to put in some work. The humans must provide large kennels and shelter for the cat, feed them, make sure water is available and maintain a clean litter box. Time, however, is the most important ingredient. A cat needs time to adjust to its new territory and its new human employer, a process that can take up to a month.
January 24, 2019 » cats, feral cats, mousers, New York, NYC