Stopping the cat overpopulation

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This article was published 12/03/2018 (2930 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

The cat overpopulation in the North End is the source of much concern among Winnipeggers, and a new program is helping prevent any harm to both the human and the animal.

We Are Here For The Animals. We Are Here For You. is a partnership between the WHS, CARE Cat Community Outreach and Winnipeg Animal Services funded by the FIXIT grant that offers spay and neuter surgeries to cat owners for only five dollars.

No, there’s no catch.

Jessica Thompson, owner of the North End pet boutique Paws for Thoughts and founder of CARE Cat, said many North End residents want to get their cat fixed, but can’t afford the hundreds of dollars the surgery can cost.

The program is offered to low-income people living in target areas that include the North End, Elmwood, and Transcona, but help is available to all. It consists of the surgery, transportation, and licence if the cat doesn’t have one yet.

The surgeries are mostly done at the WHS, but they’ve also partnered with local clinics such as Machray Animal Hospital and Tuxedo Animal Hospital. They also work with Central Vet, South End Vet, and Winnipeg Animal Emergency Hospital.

“It’s a foreign concept, the side effects of letting your one cat have a litter of kittens because all those kittens found homes, but ultimately two things happen. First off, those kittens end up having kittens of their own, and secondly some kittens were born at the same time that didn’t find homes because there aren’t enough,” Thompson explained.

“You can walk around this neighbourhood and see cats like squirrels, and that’s not normal. It’s not normal to see domestic animals at that level homeless and on the streets.”

This is a no judgment program. Thompson, who jokes she is a professional cat lady, said they’ve been spaying and neutering older cats and some who have bred several times. She said they don’t want to make anyone feel guilty or ashamed; they just want to help them help their community.

Besides, they run spay and neuter events occasionally. They have veterinarians who volunteer their time and abilities on Sundays or holidays to spay and neuter as many cats as possible.

“The veterinary community in Manitoba is very proactive in terms of wanting to help,” she added.

WHS CEO Javier Schwersenky said used to offer spay and neuter to cats for $25 in another partnership with the City. However, he said they found out the cost for cat owners was increased by a two-way taxi ride, taking time off from work, and other expenses that add up more than $100.

“When you are in a situation in which you’re living day-by-day and you have to decide between a jug of milk and some food for your family or fixing your animal, you’re going to decide on feeding your family,” he commented, adding they are happy to be working with Thompson.

“It doesn’t matter the cost, or what we need to do; we will do whatever it takes to provide to that animal whatever it needs to be healthy.”

Thompson noted that if a cat owner wants to fix their cat, but have more than one, all of them have to get fixed.

The program is run by volunteers, and in 2017 a total of 711 cats received surgery through this initiative that started last April, all funded by the FIXIT cat licensing grant. The program has grown mostly by word of mouth, with friends and family members that were referring others to We Are Here For The Animals. We Are Here For You.

For more information, go to https://www.facebook.com/CARECatAdvocacyRescueEducation/