The ad hoc committee created to deal with the feral cats in the city of Owen held their first meeting on Thursday, September 3 to come up with a plan.
The plan involves the live trapping of feral cats in the city with a few locations where they are known to hang out being pinpointed. Before trapping can begin, they need to find farms/homes willing to take the cats in. The cats will be vet checked and if going to a farm will be spayed/neutered through the Clark County Humane Society Feral to Farm program. The cats will not be tested for communicable diseases and some might need vet care.
The committee wants the public to understand that they will make every effort to find a home for the cats trapped, but there may be one or two cats that are found too unhealthy to rehome. Those cats will be humanely euthanized.
Signs will be put up around the area soliciting farms willing to take in the cats and give them a home. Some of the younger kittens that are trapped might be fostered and available for adoption. If you are interested in taking in a cat, you can call Owen City Hall at 715-229-2404 and leave your name, phone number and address to be added to the list.
It is suggested that once trapping begins that cat owners keep their cats inside, but any cat trapped will be held for at least 48 hours and can be reclaimed by the owner. Once trapping begins residents who are feeding the feral cats will have to stop feeding them so they will take the bait in the traps.
Those who can’t take in a cat, but would like to help can donate cat food and cat litter as well as cash. If enough funds are raised, the committee might also consider doing some trap, spay/neuter, and release the cats back into the community, especially if enough homes cannot be found.
The committee is planning to create a bank account where money can be donated. They will also be creating a Facebook page where information updates can be provided.
The committee is scheduled to meet again on September 22 at 5 p.m.