Well, probably not tuna, but you get the gist. Because of the demand for TNR in Chattanooga and the lack of organizations or individuals providing it, Megan Morris with CHAFCA applied for a $3,000 grant to spay and neuter feral cat populations. Doesn’t McKamey (or someone) do that? Yes, but it’s complicated. McKamey limits any individual or organization to only two cats three times a month. Hopefully, that will change in 2023. The other option outside of private vets is Chattaneuter. They only accept 12 feral cats twice a week out of the entire Chattanooga area (Georgia included), and CHAFCA has been turned away for weeks despite showing up more than an hour before they open. Makes things complicated when you are trapping feral cats.
CHAFCA has a wait list two months long, so our grant will be used primarily to partner with one or more private veterinarians willing to offer their services at a cost that’s less than what they would charge for a pet cat spay or neuter but will be more than the current $35 average cost at Chattanooga’s two low-cost clinics. So, our $3,000 will pilot a $50 spay/neuter, rabies vaccine, and an ear tip for 48 cats over the course of a year plus some more traps and bait.
If you have a feral cat colony and need help, reach out to our friends at CHAFCA. We’re proud to support their efforts to reduce the overpopulation of feral and community cats.