A nonprofit organization called Rural Ohio Cats and Kittens was formed in December 2021 with a mission to humanely control the population of feral cats to "prevent the suffering of future litters," vice president Betty Miranda told the Mount Vernon News.
The group operates primarily in Knox, Franklin and Licking counties and employs a strategy called Trap, Neuter, Return (TNR) along with adoptions.
"There are studies that show that 75% of kittens born outside die before they are six months old," Miranda said. "That statistic is enough to get me to want to help these cats and these kittens that are born outside. It saves so many hardships. If we spay and neuter the cats, it improves their lives. They are happier, healthier."
The organization loans cat traps to volunteers who then take the animals in for reduced-cost spaying and neutering. Knox County Humane Society also loans traps.
"In the past year, I have fixed 137 cats,” Miranda said. "Just think if we worked together as a community to help trap the cats. That would have an incredible impact."
Before borrowing a trap, volunteers should first make an appointment to have animals spayed or neutered immediately after they are captured.
"The Knox County Humane Society will spay or neuter feral cats who are brought in in live traps for only $15 if you make an appointment for them," Miranda said. "It's very affordable. We also are happy to help with financial assistance. If somebody is willing to put in the work to trap some cats in their area, we are happy to help provide funds as we are able."
If you are trying to trap a cat, make sure you don't feed them the day before.
It's good to line the bottom of the trap with newspaper to help lure the felines. Put good, smelly food at the back of the trap. A good bait to lure cats into traps is rotisserie chicken.
"If they've never been trapped before and they are hungry, they will go into the trap in a matter of minutes," said Miranda. "It's really an easy process. I went to a home in Knox County recently and there were about 10 cats that we needed to trap. We got all 10 in about an hour and a half. Once people see that they are able to do it and that they are saving lives, they are really happy that they stepped up."
The best way to contact the group is on its Facebook page.
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