Group seeks to tame, neuter feral kittens
By Joyce White
Special to the Sun Journal

NORWAY – Finding volunteers for taming feral kittens was high on the agenda of a recent Voice For Animals meeting held at Caryl McIntire’s home.

Members agreed that planning for the taming of kittens is part of the larger focus on management of feral cat colonies in Lovell, Sweden, Norway and South Paris. The other piece of the picture discussed was the necessity to raise funds for this project.

VFA member and Lovell resident Anastasia Agrafiotis explained that the group uses the trap, neuter and release program by first trapping feral cats in a humane way, usually with Havahart traps. Trapping may take a few attempts because some cats are very wary and most don’t take kindly to losing their freedom.

Then the cats will require the services of a veterinarian for spaying or neutering to keep them from reproducing, she said. Another positive effect of neutering is a reduction in the amount of fighting among males, which in turn, helps prevent the spread of feline immune-deficiency virus because, as with the human AIDS virus, it is spread through bodily fluids. They also get screened for the virus and feline leukemia and will be vaccinated against rabies.

If the location is safe and acceptable, the cats will then be returned and released, and a volunteer will continue to provide food and water for them. For colonies that need to be removed, though, Voice For Animals tries to find new homes. Since the cats are feral, VFA looks for people who will invite cats into their barns or other out-buildings to live where they can be fed regularly. In return for the owners’ hospitality, cats will show their gratitude by keeping mice and rats under control.

Kittens will be coming along soon in the cat colonies, Agrafiotis said, and that’s where another set of volunteers is needed. Specifically, VFA is looking for volunteers to tame kittens taken from feral cat colonies. That will involve using a large kennel crate to keep two kittens confined while they are nurtured by a human volunteer and socialized to life in a home with people and other pets. They like to have them paired so kittens taken from their families won’t feel so frightened and alone. The goal is to raise friendly, house-trained kittens that will then be adopted into loving homes.

As the spay/neuter programs increase their efficiency with education, the local problems of ever-expanding populations of feral cats will disappear, she said. But the program costs money so VFA is asking for donations. Donations of either money or time are greatly appreciated, she said, and will go to fund spay/neuter programs in local areas.

VFA, Agrafiotis said, has a “no kill” philosophy so they also need to find homes for cats with feline leukemia or FIV. She and her husband are providing homes for several FIV positive cats they’ve been successful in taming but that are unadoptable because of their diagnosis. Spay/neuter prevents FIV positive cats from reproducing so it also helps control the spread of disease, she said.

To volunteer to be a kitten tamer or to donate in any way to Voice for Animals, phone Anastasia Agrafiotis at 207/ 925-1670 or Caryl McIntire at 207/ 743-5371.