Smitten With Kittens: Baby Exxon

Baby Exxon was trapped on June 23, 2013, at an Exxon station in Sylva, NC, where she'd been surviving on her own for some time. Folks tried to nab her, and she just wouldn't give in. Food was being left out for her, but finally we procured a live trap, got rid of all the old food, and trapped her cute little spirited hissy self within a few hours.

We made a video blog about her transformation. So many cats are trapped and euthanized each year across the United States. Classified traditionally as 'ferals,' we like to use the more-appropriate term 'Community Cats.' Community Cats range from being, yes, feral, or quasi-wild, to tamed or tameable kitties. But in our shelter system, they often face a sad fate: euthanasia. The blanket euthanasia policy which these cats face rankles us to no end. Community Cats were created by humans over the centuries, and we have a role as stewards upon this planet to care for them. Yes, we need to eliminate the proliferation of such cats in our society, but the best way to do that is through spay/neuter and education. Trap-Neuter-Return programs do just that, and they work.

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) means trapping Community Cats, fixing and vaccinating them, and placing them back with the rest of their colony. The population of these cats quickly stabilize, unless people, yes, PEOPLE, continue to dump unaltered cats in these locations. These cats are provided food and, often, medical care as needed. Upon weaning, kittens can be removed, at the initial stage, and placed for adoption. 

What about wildlife impact? Well, in Western North Carolina trap-neuter-return programs exist where people do, not in national parks, national forests, and other protected areas. They also are set up in communities that are not serving as major wildlife habitat, particularly because people, yes, again, PEOPLE, are living in close quarters, such as trailer parks and apartment complexes. What do you find in such locations? Endangered species? Not likely. What IS likely is trash, scraps, and an over-abundance of small rodents. Also, in TNR programs often food is provided for colonies, taking the impact off local wild animal populations. Further, I find it ironic how some groups push for cat eradication programs, i.e. killing these cats, when human impact, the over-abundance of PEOPLE, is acceptable. Humans build roads and multiple houses and businesses across the landscape. Humans pollute the earth and waste resources and eradicate species daily. But it is easier to point a finger at something other than ourselves.

Baby Exxon transformed within fifteen minutes of her rescue. She had been lonely and scared. She had most likely been dumped by a human being. She is safe and loved. She is a success story. For us, trap-neuter-return and looking out for the well-being of our community cat populations are better options than eradication.

We thank Kaleb of Catman2 for chatting about Baby Exxon on Facebook so that we heard about her situation and were able to help. She is now part of Smitten With Kittens 2013, and we look forward to the day when she is spayed, and to the day when she finds her Furever Family. No more smelly mackerel behind the kerosene pump for her.

Love from the Tailroad,

Chandra