Desiree Nixon

Tabby, a feral cat with a beautiful half black and half orange face, needed help. She needed comfort and food. She went to my patio chair and laid on the cushion to seek comfort. That is when it was decided that the cat was now my responsibility, even if she will not let me get within ten feet of her. 

Before Tabby picked me to help her live her life, someone else helped Tabby. Her left ear is cut, which signifies they have been part of the trap, neuter and release program in the Ozarks. Watching Over Whiskers is one local organization that aids in trapping feral cats. 

After the cat is trapped, they are spayed or neutered, given vaccinations and its ear is tipped,” according to an informational brochure from Watching Over Whiskers. “After they’ve recovered from their surgeries, the cats are returned back to their original territory where a caretaker provides regular food and shelter.”

Marci Bowling, director of Watching Over Whiskers, wants to emphasize the value of returning instead of simply releasing in the TNR program.

“A lot of people say trap, neuter and release which is not the same as trap, neuter and return,” Bowling said. “Some people like to trap cats in one area and release them somewhere else. This is not the practice or protocol at all.” 

She explained that most cats, like Tabby, are in an area because they have food and shelter. If they are taken away from that area, they will likely not have the same food and shelter they once had. Often they will be confused and try to go back to their original home. On their journey, most die. 

In many cities, organizations like Watching Over Whiskers and residents are the leaders who are helping the feral cat populations. Bowling said that Springfield does not have any legislation to help deal with the feral cat population, and there is no assistance from the city with the TNR program that Watching Over Whiskers is aware of. 

Kit Baumgartner, animal control supervisor, said that the best way to deal with feral cats is to have the colony participate in the TNR program. 

“It helps produce smaller colonies of much healthier vaccinated animals, which helps us prevent the spread of diseases like rabies,” Baumgartner said. 

Aside from picking up feral cats that may be a nuisance to a community, animal control does not dispose of all cats in an area. 

“But (animal control) will humanely euthanize unadoptable cats housed at the Springfield Animal Shelter,” Baumgartner said.  “Any animals that can be adopted are picked up by our partners, including Watching Over Whiskers and the Southwest Missouri Humane Society. These organizations are also a great resource for any residents who have a feral cat issue in their neighborhood.”

Helping the neighborhood cats is not possible without organizations like Watching Over Whiskers and volunteers like Jennifer Beuerlein. Beuerlein is one of the lead volunteers in the cat sheltering effort of Watching Over Whiskers. 

Whenever Tabby came to my patio it was Beuerlein who I contacted for one of the insulated winter shelters she makes for cats. These large totes are made from donated Styrofoam fish containers and stuffed with straw, catnip and natural flea and tick medicine. 

“(The shelters) provide a dry and warm shelter for our community cats,” Beuerlein said. “The shelters offer community cats a safe place to rest and offer protection from cold temperatures and precipitation.”

These shelters can be purchased through Watching Over Whiskers or Forgotten Felines of Springfield Facebook pages for $10, and all money raised goes back to the trap, neuter and return program. 

Individuals can also make winter shelters for community cats. 

“People can make winter shelters with only a few supplies,” Beuerlein said. “They need a container that is insulated and will stay dry. (I) prefer Styrofoam containers. Cut a six-inch hole in the Styrofoam for an entry door. Then add straw and wrap the container with a contractor bag. Finally, I tape it tightly with weather resistant tape and cut an opening in the bag where the entry door is located.”

Beuerlein said that providing shelter for the community cats is great, but the cycle needs to stop. The only way to do that is to raise money for the trap, neuter and return program or help in trapping the cats so that they get the help they need.

“I help community cats because it is heartbreaking to think we have any animals in our community not being cared for,” Beuerlein said. “It is cruel for any animal to be hungry, cold or mistreated. I help because it is our responsibility. We have an overpopulation of cats in our community, and we are to blame.”

For more information on how to help the communities feral cat population, visit facebook.com/WatchingOverWhiskers or facebook.com/ForgottenFelinesofSpringfield.