Campus stray cat problem given some clarification

I was somewhat surprised to read the recent article, published in the Sept. 21 issue of the Daily Forty-Niner, on the “stray cats” at Cal State Long Beach.

The writer is unaware there is a large group of CSULB faculty, administrative staff, students and alumni that participate in the Campus Animal Assistance program (CAA).  The sole purpose of the program is to provide an effective means of controlling the campus cat population through an active spay/neuter program.  

Trappings of the campus cats are conducted weekly during the spring and summer months, and monthly during the fall and winter months. 

Trapped cats are taken to a licensed veterinarian, who provides a general physical examination, performs spaying/neutering and provides all vaccines and deworming.  

Cats who are gentle (and were previous house or dorm pets) are kept and adopted out.The remaining cats (those who have been on their own for years and are non-adoptable) are relocated to the athletic area. 

We never take the cats to the County Animal Shelter. There are, however, several good privately run “no-kill” shelters available, and we use these resources extensively.

Most cats on campus are sterile, in good health, and cannot transmit disease. There is no history of anyone ever being bitten or scratched by a campus cat.

There are several things students can do to help CAA minimize the cat population on campus.

(1) Do not bring cats into your dorm rooms as companions. 

(2) Do not release your companion cats onto the campus at the end of the year. 

(3) Volunteer and participate in the CAA program. 

— Patricia Meredith, M.D.

Calendar

Display Ads