Desperate, Homeless, and Furry

Why the city of Plattsburgh is losing the battle over the growing feral cat problem.

Story and photos by Kerry McAvoy

Plattsburgh State University College (PSUC) students Maria Earle, and local resident Angel Lacroix, were getting ready to leave Earle's apartment on Broad Street. Leaving the top floor apartment of 68 Broad Street, the two stumbled upon a visitor on the washing machine. Staring them down, he didn't move or flinch. Keeping their gaze, the intruder opened his mouth, and let out a loud, bellowing meow.

"In a 6 month period we'll get around six cats dropped off outside our shelter."

"He was just sitting there, completely relaxed. He looked at me, I looked at him. Then he began to meow and purr." The two girls had came upon one of the countless stray cats that populate the city of Plattsburgh. The cat hopped off the washer and began to rub against Maria's feet. A cat owner herself, Maria fed the skinny, neutered male, and went on her way.

The cat didn't leave the apartment. He stayed, and for the next three or four days, he waited to be fed. Fearing for the cat's health, the two girls began to call local shelters to see if they could drop the cat off. Every shelter they tried said there was no more available room, and they were unable to take the homeless cat.

The problem of feral cats in the United States is a huge one. Estimates, from a 2004 study published in National Geographic, now put the feral cat population in the United States at around 70 million. Many of these cats are born because their parents were never spayed or neutered. The average female cat can give birth to 36 kittens a year, and without any forms of control the numbers could keep increasing.

Many local shelters are struggling to keep up with the number of feral and abandoned cats living in Plattsburgh. Kelly Allen, shelter manager at the Elmore Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) in Peru, says that "Cats are now breeding in the winter, which is a very scary thought." With the animals getting used to the weather and breeding year round, the problem is growing.

The Humane Society, on Idaho Avenue in Plattsburgh, is housing 65 cats. Driving up to the shelter, a large sign advertising the fact that no new cats can be accepted is displayed on a large board next to the door. This, according to shelter manager Lacey Ahrent, hasn't stopped people from dropping off unwanted cats. Ahrent said they have gotten between 15 to 20 cats since they put the sign up. Almost all are unspayed, young cats or kittens, who are not well cared for.

Walking into the small front hall of the building, one can be easily overwhelmed by cats. Starving for attention, the cats and kittens meow, purr, rub, and jump to get the attention of visitors. The facility has been full of cats for months. The numbers keep growing as people abandon them outside.

According to Allen, there are 20 cats in her facility. Of these cats, there are six kittens. Allen estimates that one cat a month is left outside the shelter. Allen said that she does have to occasionally turn people away. The shelter has had as many as 48 to 50 cats in a building that was once a house. Ferret cages had to be brought into the small office to accommodate the large number of cats.

Allen said that a lot of the cats that are at the shelter are spayed or neutered when they are left at the shelter. Varying reasons are given as to why the cats are being dropped off. A few common excuses are given at the SPCA: allergic reaction is a common exuse, or that their doctor told them they could not keep the cat while they were pregnant, the SPCA now requires that doctor's notes be brought in when dropping a cat off for "medical reasons."

The Peru SPCA recently had to euthanize a mother and her litter. The female cat was found in the dumpster outside of the shelter. A few days after her arrival in Peru, she gave birth to a litter of kittens. Following protocol, the SPCA tested the mother and all of the kittens for a variety of diseases. The mother and all of the kittens tested positive for feline leukemia. The staff had to put both her and her kittens to sleep. A small card on a bulletin board satirically thanking the person that left these cats outside to die, and serves as a stark reminder of how cruel owners can be.

Allen feels that shelters are making progress in preventing cats from getting into the hands of the wrong people. All those interested in adopting must apply to get an animal. The Elmore SPCA almost never allows college students to adopt. Allen feels that the biggest problems come from pet stores who don't do the necessary research to make sure their animals are going to good owners.

Also, the Human Society has an application process to ensure that animals go to good homes. Arhent and the Human Society are educating people as early as elementary school to get the message of spaying and neutering out early. The children often take this message back to their families. The Human Society also offers $50 vouchers towards spaying and neutering for needy families.

Both managers hope better education will lesson the problem. Spaying and neutering animals is a must to control populations. This simple step can help keep the number of feral cats in Plattsburgh to a minimum.

"I still wish he was never put in that position in the first place."

As for the feral cat found by the two girls on Broad Street? After making calls to several friends, the girls eventually found someone to take the cat in. He was named, fittingly enough, Hobo. The cat now lives back with both Earle and Lacroix, since they became roommates with the young man that took him in. Hobo sleeps with Lacroix almost every night. Lacroix said, "I couldn't be happier that we ended up with him. I don't know what it would be like if we didn't help him out. I still wish he was never put in that position in the first place, though."

Have you found an abandoned cat in the city? What did you do with it?

Adoption Information

In order to ensure that pets are being placed with responsible families, application processes are in place at both the Humane Society and the Peru SPCA.

The applications at the Human Society are around three to four pages long. A review period of 24 to 48 hours is then put into place. The staff reviews the applications to find the best possible homes for their animals. A fee of $90 is charged. The animals are given their first round of shots, and they are spayed or neutered.

At the Peru SPCA, the application process is also in effect. The staff calls references and landlords, if the applicant is a renter. The staff also interviews those interested in adopting.

It not only ensures animals are going to good homes, but the right homes as well. The staff is able to place the right cat or dog with the right person. Allen and her staff know the animal's personalities and are able to match them through these interviews.

Those interested in adopting, or to learn more about the adoption process, can also turn to the website petfinder.com. This site is devoted to animal adoptions through shelters. Both the SPCA and Human Society place their animals for view on this site.