Trap-Neuter-Release Pilot Program to Begin in Birdtown in September

With the continued growth of Lakewood's feral cat population, a group of about 10 volunteers are stepping up their efforts to reverse the trend.

Volunteers met Thursday evening at to discuss scheduling and how to properly implement starting in September.

Starting in the next few weeks, residents in Birdtown will start seeing door hangers with information about the trap-neuter-release program. These hangers will detail steps for residents concerned about feral cat colonies in their neighborhood.

"If you simply take a cat out of an area, another one's going to move in," Kim McCarty, chairperson of the Lakewood Animal Safety and Welfare Advisory Board said. "The new one that moves in might not be altered. If you do the math, a female cat can have three litters minimum per year with four to six kittens per litter. Half of those are females, so by altering one female you've, in essence, prevented more feral kittens."

The TNR program is working in concert with the Cleveland Animal Protective League. This program is funded by a $13,000 grant provided by PetSmart Charities. The main purpose of the program is to humanely manage cat overpopulation in the area. 

"If we can prove it works, we can convince [the city] to continue the program," McCarty said.

The boundaries for the program are Halstead Avenue, Magee Street, Madison Avenue and Plover Street.

For more information on TNR, visit Alley Cat Allies.