Dealing with feral felines in town

Representatives of the Town of Thermopolis and members of the police department were interviewed to discuss the matter of feral cats and how they work to remedy the issue.

Town codes administrator Jim Jeunehomme said, “The problem with the stray cats is that people are feeding them, but they don’t want to claim ownership of them. They’re creating that problem in itself. When you have neighbors that already have a lot of potential animals and strays that come in and they leave out food for them, it puts a strain on other neighbors. It should be if you’re going to go out of your way to feed them, then adopt them and take control of them. Get them neutered. Get rid of the problem where we keep having more and more produce.”

Jeunehomme explained the process of when they receive calls about feral cats. The reporting party is to call dispatch, where the documentation of the matter begins. Then the Animal Control Officer (ACO), currently Grace Wagstaff, will go to the area where the nuisance was called in. In that neighborhood, the ACO will set out feral cat traps, sometimes at night time. Then in the morning, the ACO will check the traps. Once a trap captures the cat, the ACO will take the animal to the vet. The vet then determines if the animal is indeed feral or a possibly owned cat or can be re-homed, such as out in the country as a barn cat. If they can determine the owner, they will try to return the animal.

If a resident has a cat that they are feeding, Jeunehomme suggests they take full ownership of the cat, license it, and get it spayed or neutered. But they ask that residents stop feeding stray cats. This attracts more cats and increases the problem. There could be citations for residents if the ACO or vet deems a cat to be at large, such as if it is known the resident is feeding the cat. Feral cats are not owned, of course, but feeding them could result in the ACO determining the resident as ownership of the cat. If it is running around at large, then the citation could be given.

If someone is bitten by a feral cat and the ACO is able to capture it, the animal is taken to the vet and tested for diseases. The ACO recommends that residents do not try to capture a feral cat on their own. Contact dispatch at 864-3114 for the ACO to set traps.

Overall, the Town of Thermopolis, the police department, and the ACO ask that residents do not feed feral cats or try to catch them.

ACO Wagstaff said that the town is “completely overpopulated with feral cats.” There are six different areas in the town where she has set traps. Also, obviously, feral cats are not vaccinated and could carry diseases such as rabies. Outdoor cats that are owned must be licensed, tagged, vaccinated and need to stay on your property. If they go onto other people’s properties, there could be cat-at-large citation given.