The Urbanna Cat Project has been around for more than 12 years seeking to make an effective, humane, cooperative and lasting impact on the feral cat population of Urbanna, said Co-founder Suzanne Caciola. The project has worked organizing volunteers, educating members of the community and humanely decreasing the number of feral cats using the Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) method and has spearheaded spaying and neutering 600 cats over the past 12 years, she said. It also provides vaccinations (reducing rabies infections) and medical care.
The Urbanna Cat Project initially had almost 14 volunteers but now it has seven, and they have full-time work schedules, Caciola explained. “We need more volunteers for trapping and feeding.”
Health care
The feral cat colonies are monitored by individuals on their private properties. The feral cats that can be trapped are spayed, neutered, vaccinated and monitored for illness. They are euthanized when necessary. This prevents the original scenario of 12 years ago when the town was overrun with sick, sometimes pregnant, starving homeless cats in the town, said Caciola. For example, one of the colonies started with 42 cats and now is down to 12.
“This proves the TNR is working,” said Caciola. The Urbanna Cat Project has been fortunate to partner with the “SCAT” organization which has taken some local domestic cats to New Hampshire for adoption through their program.
Help needed
To continue its mission, said Caciola, the Urbanna Cat Project needs a 501c3 designation. “We need someone to volunteer to help us with the paperwork and tax filing,” she said. Food donations can be placed in the box at Urbanna Market.
The project also needs more funding and grants. Donations can be sent to: Urbanna Cat Project, P.O. Box 758, Urbanna, VA 23175.
To learn more about the Urbanna Cat Project, call Caciola at 804-654-0271.
