How to help Geneseo’s stray cat population

Here at Geneseo, there is a considerable stray cat population. Though the exact number is unknown, the small town of Geneseo is home to hundreds of stray, and some feral, cats that have taken residence on the outskirts of campus, in areas near Orchard Street, and alongside residential blocks adjacent to Main Street. This is an issue which goes unnoticed by many, excluding the street’s residents, as the number of cats present within the community seems to be skyrocketing.

Initially, this sounds like a dream come true—a town littered with cats—but this has resulted in a bleak reality for the overwhelming majority of the cats. When navigating through an industrial society, with cars, loud noises, and people, cats easily become overstimulated, start to panic, and as a result, may end up as roadkill; luckily, this only applies to a small number of cats. Regardless, the danger lurking at every corner from humans and other organisms is something cats cannot always defend against. The most prominent example is disease and sickness, including intestinal parasites, rabies, and flea-borne typhus, all of which these animals are prone to due to their lack of vaccinations, which can significantly reduce a cat’s quality of life. 

One important thing to remember is that the stigma surrounding these cats and their danger to humans—viewing them as incredibly dangerous, possibly carrying transferable diseases—is false. These cats and their issues are not transmissible to humans; the only threats are scratching or biting. If you see one of these little guys on the street, your first thought shouldn’t be fear, but instead how best to respect and help them. 

An ever-growing number of cats live entirely on the streets, scavenging for every meal while encountering threats they cannot handle on their own—predator and infection alike. Though they have their roots as nomadic hunters, they are far removed from this ancestry and domestic cat breeds do not have the means to defend and care for themselves year-round, especially in a humid continental climate with changing seasons and temperatures. 

So, as the seasons change and the temperature plummets, what can be done to help these cuddly little cuties? 

Well, first, it is important to note that not all cats who live as strays are fit to ever be acclimated to the pet lifestyle; these types of cats are often referred to as being feral. They are typically cats that have spent all of, or most of, their lives removed from human contact and live as strays; they are poorly socialized and tend to be fearful of humans. These cats often will not and should not become house pets due to the anxiety it would cause the cat to switch to an indoor lifestyle. 

One important way to help stray cat populations is through a popular service commonly dubbed Trap-Neuter-Release, or TNR. This initiative involves using humane animal traps in order to contain the cat so it can be taken to a service run by a local shelter, veterinary clinic, or similar animal support organization so that animal can be spayed or neutered, and then returned to the spot in which they were originally caught. Sometimes these programs will also snip a bit of the cat’s ear so that others know this cat has already been through the TNR process, though this practice is met with increased controversy. 

This method can be helpful in helping to keep stray cat populations down because, when out of control, the dense numbers are not good for the cats themselves or their surrounding ecosystems. Often, these cats can have negative impacts on bird populations and the food some kind humans put out for them may be eaten by other animals, resulting in an unhealthy diet for other local fauna.

As the winter draws closer, it is also important to give some tips on how best to help stray cats stay warm and alive during this brutal season. The basic advice is to make sure they have various access to the essentials: food, shelter, and water. Some people will set up small cat shelter communities using old pet carriers and blankets. It is also important to provide the cats with more food than normal due to natural prey being scarce during this time, and to make sure any provided water stays unfrozen. 

Lastly, if you are interested in a more hands-on approach, animal societies are always looking for foster parents for incoming animals. Our very own Livingston County has a humane society which can be a vehicle for fostering and adoptions for those able and willing. Please feel free to check them out online and make sure to keep our furry friends of all types in mind this winter season.