Woman strives to reduce feral cat population

Kathy Banks is a woman on a mission to do what she can, where she can. "I think everyone should give back. Everyone has a skill to offer," Banks said.

After several years of volunteering in activities with her children, Banks actively sought a new area that might benefit from her help and contacted Human Haven Animal Shelter (HHAS).

A lifetime animal-lover, Banks began working with the shelter dogs. Her current weekly canine duties include greeting potential adopters and answering questions, cleaning kennels, feeding, and providing playtime and walks.

Over time, Banks' volunteer work expanded beyond HHAS. She provided temporary housing for two homeless domestic rabbits and worked with a local veterinarian office to place them in good homes. She also became involved with feral cats.

Banks noticed a friend feeding a colony of feral cats at her workplace and knew that she had to do more than just provide food. Feral cats pose a unique challenge because they are wild animals that aren't easily domesticated.

Through research Banks discovered a Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program whereby feral cats are humanely trapped and then vaccinated and sterilized by a veterinarian.

Healthy adult cats that are too wild are returned to their habitat. There they continue to receive food, water and shelter from a caretaker. Kittens and cats that can be rehabilitated are adopted.

Last year Banks trapped 35 cats and kittens from her workplace and successfully rehabilitated most of the kittens that were less than 12 weeks old.

One of the adult cats she trapped was very ill and became tame while being cared for by her.

Banks cautions that rehabilitation is a balancing act because a feral cat that is homebound for more than three weeks may forget how to survive in the wild, but may not be tame enough to live happily as a domestic pet.

The pií¨ce de résistance of Banks' work is that none of the cats she trapped will reproduce. That is an accomplishment of exponential magnitude considering cats typically mature between 5 and 9 months of age and have up to four litters a year. One unsterilized cat commonly has 30 kittens each year.

For information about adopting a pet from HHAS or volunteering, call (630) 378-4208 or visit www.hhas.org.