Cape Girardeau city officials are seeking to work with local veterinarians to euthanize feral cats.

Cape Girardeau, Missouri city officials are seeking to work out agreements with local veterinarians to euthanize feral cats brought into the shelter by animal control. The Humane Society animal shelter stated: “We are not equipped to deal with them”.

The decision comes after an animal control officer brought 16 feral cats to the Humane Society back in April. Many were pregnant. Deputy City Manager Molly Mehner said that In past years, the shelter received between 30 to 40 feral cats each year.

Humane Society executive director Tracy Poston said at one point 27 feral cats were being cared for at the shelter. In an interview with The Southeast Missourian Poston, along with Charlotte Craig, president of the Humane Society board of directors described their dilemma:

“A feral cat is basically a cat you can’t pick up, you can’t touch. They are a wild community cat. You can’t adopt them out. You can’t feed them. You can’t clean out the kitty litter. You can’t touch them in any way without it being a danger to the staff members.”

Humane Society executive director Tracy Poston

At one point, feral cats were stacked one on top of each other. The City of Cape Girardeau has a new contract that takes effect on July 1. Under the fiscal 2020 contract, the Humane Society will be paid $63,000 to take in animals that are picked up in the city, which is an increase of $1,900 paid in fiscal 2019.

The shelter will still allow some feral cats to enter the shelter system. Young kittens, affectionately nicknamed “hissy, spitty kittens,” that are young enough to be tamed will still be allowed.

Humane Society officials, along with Mehner, hope to have a plan put into place by summer where a TNR can be put into practice. Poston says “We are not prepared financially or volunteer-wise to do that at this time.”

Perhaps city officials need a quick course in TNR. Click here to contact them. (opens in a new window)