City of Evanston Blog
Community Animal Control Notice
Please be advised that a feral cat colony has been identified at a specific address located in the 1900 block of Grant St. The Evanston Animal Control Bureau will be conducting an on-going animal control abatement process, focusing on the feral cat population at this address. The propensity does exist for area domestic cats to wander onto this property.
In efforts to further safeguard the area’s domestic cat population, the City of Evanston will be canvassing the target area(s) and distributing flyers advising neighbors of this on- going capture and abatement process. It should be noted that all capture efforts will be confined to the target property in question unless public safety issues dictate additional action.
It is suggested that the owners of domestic cats in this area be extra vigilant and know the whereabouts of their animals and place collars on their cats detailing the appropriate owner information. Micro-chipping also presents an excellent way for animals to be identified and returned to their owner.
For further information or concerns, contact Evanston Police Department’s Animal Control Bureau at 847/866-5080 (or 5081).
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38 Comments
We are working with agencies to find homes for the cats as possible.
January 28, 2010 2:39 PM
I would like to second Ms. Meniz's request that you work with Alley Cat Allies who can offer cost effective community safe solutions that are more humane for the cats as well. I am glad you are working to find homes for as many cats as possible but we all know that this will be difficult. There are additional legitimate options that we strongly hope you will be willing to consider.
January 29, 2010 3:37 PM
Finding homes isn't going to work. It's only going to bring MORE stray and feral cats to the area, restarting this entire 'problem'.
TNR is the most effective way to keep new cats from being introduced to the area.
January 29, 2010 3:39 PM
There is a much better way than this and you know it. How can you kill these innocent creatures. Alley Cat Allies is willing to help you. There are many advocates on the ground here in Chicago, but you choose to take the easy way out and the more expensive...the taxpayers are paying for your killing. Think about it..please.
January 29, 2010 3:42 PM
Working with agencies to find homes is not the answer right now, you need to Trap, Neuter, and Release!
January 29, 2010 3:46 PM
Killing is not the answer. More ferals will just take their place. Trap, Neuter, Release is the way to go. Please open dialogue with Alley Cat Allies at alleycat.org and learn how this method is not only humane but also very effective.
January 29, 2010 4:06 PM
Why would your city do this? Caretakers traps these feral cats, & they are spayed/neutered & vaccinated. That is population control. Trapping with the purpose to kill is inhumane, & will only bring in more cats which AREN'T spayed/neutered. That is NOT population control. Maybe someone in your city gov't has a personal reason/vendetta for doing this. Obviously, your city officials know nothing about feral cats. Neither do many shelters, the ones who will do the city's dirty work. Wow, what a terrible thing to do.
January 29, 2010 4:16 PM
Please do not do this! These cats HAVE a home - outdoors. What they need is to be trapped, neutered and returned.
Feral cats do not harm domestic cats - they ARE domestic cats who are not socialized. They are the product of people who have not neutered their pets and have not kept them indoors.
Please! This is not a humane solution. They cannot be "re-homed" like shelter cats. They are not socialized and are nearly impossible to socialize. TNR is the humane solution. The goal of TNR is to stop them from reproducing and ultimately - by lack of reproduction - to truly and humanely eliminate the "problem".
Both Illinois and Cook County have passed landmark laws in recent years to assist with this process. Please consider other alternatives that are in keeping with the spirit of our county and state laws.
January 29, 2010 4:29 PM
If this is truly a feral community the likelihood of you placing these cats in homes is very, very slim... Feral cats do not make good pets! Cats that have spent their entire lives fending for themselves, generally, do not suddenly turn into docile, litterbox trained housecats. I beg you to research the method and success rate of Trap-Neuter-Return versus simply killing the feral colonies. Outside the argument of killing being inhumane, a new colony of feral colonies will simply move into that territory... it's absolutely futile and shortsighted.
I am truly surprised that Evanston is actually planning to do this... I always considered Evanston to be fairly progressive in it's community efforts. This is archaic and ill-informed. Completely disappointing.
January 29, 2010 4:35 PM
Having spent 30 years in/around government (federal, state, and local), I appreciate your position on this matter. However, having fallen into care for a feral cat colony almost 9 years ago, I've learned a few valuable lessons that I would like to share with you.
First and foremost, every community has incredibly dedicated volunteers who are ready, willing, and able to help manage the feral cat population within your community (i.e., that's people like me). Even people who aren't already involved will step forward to help once they learn of the need and hope they can help. Those local resources are now backed by national groups who are highly skilled and also ready, willing, and able to share their expertise with you. Please tap those networks. Please let people step up to help address this community concern.
If you doubt me, ask about other communities who have accepted the help of groups like Alley Cat Allies. Contact officials of those communities. I'm certain that they will tell you that although they were initially skeptical, they know now that being open to new ideas about feral cats was a smart, smart thing to do.
Second, trap/spay-neuter/vaccinate/release/maintain works. Before I started feeding the homeless cats around my apartment complex in the summer of 2001, I hadn't had a pet for over 30 years. I wasn't one of those wild eyed, animal rights activists. But once I noticed a homeless, hungry kitty around my apartment complex, I knew I had to do something. Taking all the tips that I've learned from knowledgeable groups in the field, I now have a stable colony of happy, healthy "community cats" - with no kitties born on the property since August 2007. I've also been able to reunite several lost cats with their families (even though they'd been missing so long their humans had given up hope of finding them). Plus, I've found loving homes for all the abandoned pets. And when circumstances warranted, I've helped the terminally ill go over the "Rainbow Bridge" for their benefit and the rest of the feline community.
Third, all too often, people look at homeless cats and homeless people in much the same way. They seem them as troublemakers that are too far gone, impossible to help, and just a hopeless drag on resources. They want these "pests" moved out of the community so as to stop ruining the atmosphere in the community and undermining property values.
That's an attitude that desperately needs to be changed.
From working with the feral cats in my neighborhood, however, I've learned to look past initial appearances. Back in July 2001, I saw a terrified, hungry cat around my apartment complex - just the type of animal that most would label an annoying pest who should be "destroyed/put down" for her own benefit or to ensure the maintenance of property values without the community.
Although that cat was a truly feral cat who was terrified of people, now that terrified kitty is sitting on my computer desk, watching as I type this. She's my most loyal, devoted friend and I can't imagine life without here. And I'm certain if she could type, she would tell you that she is so grateful that she got a second chance to be a loving pet. She can only hope that the leaders and citizens of your community give every kitty the chance they need to live out their lives in peace and happiness.
We are all God's creatures - animal and human - and although times are tough, and demands are great, compassion is free and spreading it liberally throughout your community enriches everyone.
The feral cat problem may be a small issue among the hundreds of pressing matters that demand your attention every day. That makes it a perfect "problem solving laboratory" to use. So I encourage you to reach out to residents, work with volunteers, take the advice of national experts, develop a plan, test out educational & outreach tools for that plan, then analyze results - take all the lessons learned and then apply them to the other vexing problems in your community (e.g., homelessness). I think you'll be surprised by the results.
January 29, 2010 4:49 PM
This is a terrible idea. There are so many more EFFECTIVE and HUMANE ways to handle feral cats! If you kill these cats, more feral cats will just move in and breed even FASTER because removing cats from their territory creates a vacuume effect!
Trap Neuter and Return programs (TNR) have proven themselves to be EFFECTIVE time and time again. There is absolutely NO EXCUSE for killing perfectly healthy animals when they could live out their lives peacefully and harmlessly under a proper TNR program.
Mass killing of animals is terrible and ignorant. Please do not do this. Do not be known as a cruel city which hates cats and is unwilling to try humane methods of dealing with animals. It is not the fault of the cats that people do not neuter and spay their pets. Don't punish them with death for a crime humans have committed. Instead, promote neuter and spaying and TNR and you will see an end to the problem! Please listen to what Ally Cat Allies has to say. They are experienced and have a very successful track record with TNR programs.
January 29, 2010 5:18 PM
PS - you cannot find "homes" for feral cats! They are not "strays" who have lived with humans before - they are wild. This statement is ignorant! The ONLY way to humanely and effectively deal with them is through TNR. Please enlist Ally Cat Allies to help you - they are experienced and they WILL solve this problem without killing aninals.
January 29, 2010 5:20 PM
City of Evanston, shame on you. These animals deserve a chance to live, not to be thoughtlessly killed because of people's ignorance and lack of care. Be a model city and show the positive good that can happen when people come together to humanely address the issue of homeless cats. It is not the cats' fault that they are here, it is our responsibility to ensure they have a good life - not a swift death.
January 29, 2010 6:53 PM
Please do not do this! These cats HAVE a home – outdoors. What they need is to be trapped, neutered and returned.
Feral cats do not harm domestic cats – they ARE domestic cats who are not socialized. They are the product of people who have not neutered their pets and have not kept them indoors.... See More
Please! This is not a humane solution. They cannot be “re-homed” like shelter cats. They are not socialized and are nearly impossible to socialize. TNR is the humane solution. The goal of TNR is to stop them from reproducing and ultimately – by lack of reproduction – to truly and humanely eliminate the “problem”.
Both Illinois and Cook County have passed landmark laws in recent years to assist with this process. Please consider other alternatives that are in keeping with the spirit of our county and state laws.
January 29, 2010 7:12 PM
Please reconsider this plan to trap and kill this colony of feral cats. Research has shown that catch and kill does not work. Other cats will just move into this location. It is also incredibly inhumane. The best solution, advocated by humane agencies around the country, is Trap, Neuter, Return. Our local animal shelter in Columbus, Ohio, provides free neuter surgeries for feral cats ... there is likely a shelter in the Chicago area that does this also. In many locations where TNR has been practiced, the population of feral cats declines steadily until the problem is solved. Feral cats are unsocialized and for the most part do not make good pets, though sometimes the kittens can be adopted out. Please rethink your plans for trap and kill -- surely the home of Northwestern University can do better than that. For more information on TNR, check out Alley Cat Allies, which has a page of resource for the Chicago area: http://www.alleycat.org/NetCommunity/Page.aspx?pid=278. Thanks.
January 29, 2010 9:10 PM
Doesn't it cost more to trap and euthanize than TNR????
January 29, 2010 11:30 PM
Please, stop cruel and seneless killing. These poor cats need your help.
Work with Alley Cat Allies. I hope there are animals lovers who will help.
January 30, 2010 6:05 AM
The City has contacted Alley Cat Allies to serve as a resource for us. The City is working to handle this matter as humanely as possible. Thanks to all for comments.
January 30, 2010 7:43 AM
Most people aren't aware of this, but these cats are not socialized; they're domestic but they don't want human contact. Young kittens can switch from feral to housecat, but their mothers teach them to fear humans by the time they are 2 months old: "finding homes" is not a real option most of the time. Trap-nueter/spay-return (TNR) is the most humane and effective way to address feral cat overpopulation. If you don't want to return them, there are sanctuaries that take feral cats; they are not all good, but it's an option. The 2 big no-kill shelters in Chicago (PAWS and Tree House) also provide guidance for this sort of thing, as does Alley Cat Allies on a national level. I'm sure they could tell you a lot more about TNR and sanctuaries.
January 30, 2010 8:49 AM
It is completely inhumane to trap and kill feral cats. It is also unrealistic and unfair to the cats to think they can be placed into homes. TNR is the best, most humane option for these cats. It has been proven the most effective, least costly option for communities. I sincerely hope that Evanston makes the humane choice. Cats, like all species, deserve compassion and to live out their lives the way nature intends, no matter how friendly or feral their temperament may be.
January 30, 2010 12:24 PM
I'm very happy to see that Alley Cat Allies is helping you.
Thank you so much!
January 30, 2010 1:24 PM
Wally,
Public health and welfare must be the priority. There is no scientific proof that TNR effectively or significantly reduces the feral cat population or eliminates colonies. The AVMA notes that any reduction is insignificant. Removing the food source(s) and the cats produces no vacuum effect. TNR is a danger for our natural resources, an infringement on property rights, a public health concern, and many find that TNR is an inhumane outcome for domestic animals. Cats are not wildlife - their home is not outdoors. Please see more information here:
January 30, 2010 5:57 PM
What many on this board would have you do is allow these feral cats to persist and interact negatively with both the native birds and small mammals, not to mention the pet cats of responsible cat owners. There is no scientific support for Trap, Neuter, Release as a mechanism to reduce a colony. The continued feeding attracts other feral cats and encourages abandonment of pet cats that homeowners can no longer support. (they see cats being fed and they belive theirs will continue to be cared for). City's that endorse or encourage feral cat colonies will be held liable when one of these animals bites someone (as happened last year in Point Pleasant Beach, NJ). If these so-called humane organizations do not support euthanasia, let them create ENCLOSED colonies to deal with feral cats. THAT would be acceptable from both a wildlife, and public health standpoint. Do not be bullied by ACA or it's supporters. You are doing the right and humane thing but bringing these cats in from a hostile environment. Euthanasia is MORE humae than I life of freezing temperatures, disease, parasites, and a short brutal existence.
January 30, 2010 6:31 PM
I work in local government and I know that money and resources are scarce. But please consider using TNR as a solution, rather than euthanasia. A large part of what makes us human is our compassion for other creatures. Give these cats a chance to live as a feral colony, rather than taking the easy way out. Please do the right thing.
January 30, 2010 11:22 PM
Thanks to everyone for protesting the idea of killing of innocent cats. There are other options. I personally have taken in a feral mother cat who is now a loving and terrific pet.
January 31, 2010 8:48 AM
TNR will not work. Why value the life of a domestic cat over the lives of our native wildlife? If you must keep every cat alive then please take them home with you and enclose tham on your private property. I do not want feral or free roaming cats on my property. Thank you.
February 1, 2010 6:11 AM
This option is inhumane and unethical. If you do not look at the attrocity of this act, look at list at the inpracticality of it. Felines (feral cats in this case) play an important role outdoors - they keep the rodent population under control. You can not eradicate a species and not suffer consequences. The best way to keep cats' population under control is through the hard work of feral caretakers also known as TNR (Trap Neuter Return). Cities should be more concerned with enforcing laws to put a full stop to breeding of any kind - backyard and even the "responsible" kind. Most breeders are not asking the people that buy cats or dogs from them to spay or neuter their pets, nor do they adopt the animals they breed to responible owners - thus the vicious cycle .
Please reconsider - Thank you!!!
February 1, 2010 11:45 AM
I saw that Alley Cat Allies has offered to help with these cats. I'm wondering what the status is on this.
February 1, 2010 2:41 PM
Both Alley Cat Allies & Tree House Humane Society have offered help in TNR-ing these cats. Cook County has a very successful TNR ordinance on the books that Evanston should be abiding by because we know for a FACT that TNR is the most effective and humane way to control feral cat populations.
Killing these cats is not only inhumane, but it is not effective and it is extremely costly to taxpayers. I DO NOT WANT MY TAX DOLLARS SPENT ON KILLING CATS! There are private humane organizations willing to step in and assist!
Are you listening, Evanston? This is not what your constituents want!
February 2, 2010 10:43 AM
What is the status? We all want to know and are not going away until you handle this humanely.
February 2, 2010 11:08 AM
Trap Neuter & Release works! If you simply kill off all the cats in an area, new cats will move it, just like it has every other place this has been tried, Through TNR, you get a healthy stable population that will not increase because of the sterilization of these healthy cats.
February 2, 2010 11:33 AM
To the people who ask "why bother" saving these cats and "why value the lives of domestic animals over wildlife" or that "TNR doesn't work" I can hardly find words.
These animals are here because of stupid humans who do not spay and neuter their pets. We "bother" because they are there and need our help. We do not value them over wildlife. To the best of my knowledge it is illegal to trap and kill an opossum or a raccoon in Cook County. Why should it be legal to trap and kill a feral cat? It has been proven over and over that the feral cats do not threaten avian life - people (fancy that) threaten the birds.
As to "TNR doesn't work" I say how do you know that? When a city like Evanston won't practice it, if indeed that is still the plan, you will never know will you? Hard to say something doesn't work when it's never tried, isn't it?
I still would really like to know what the City of Evanston has decided since Alley Cat Allies has offered their assistance.
February 3, 2010 9:14 AM
To Steve and Linda:
Why is wildlife so much more important than a cat's life, simply because the cat is a domestic animal? What gives you or anyone the right to pick which animal is more important? I read through the "Reality Check" website given by Linda, and as someone who has owned multiple cats throughout my life, I wasn't even sure whether to laugh or be furious. The idea that a well-fed cat hunts just as much as a hungry one is ridiculous. Most of my cats have been indoor-outdoor, and rarely kill anything.
Toxoplasmosis is also used as a scare tactic in your website. The fact that cats can carry it in their feces is a well known and documented fact. What is not so well-known (and also is not mentioned on your site) is the fact that it can also be contracted by eating contaminated meat, and that this is far more common than it being contracted from cat feces. Read more facts about toxoplasmosis here: http://www.vtvets.org/public_health/toxoplasmosis.shtml
One last item I would like to address. Your website states that the best way to control pests such as mice and rats it to make it difficult for them to get in. There are many situations where this is not possible, (such as open cornfields) and if you had seen these pests work their way through steel wool and 3/4" of wood like I have, you would find that idea laughable. I also don't like the idea of encouraging hawks and owls to come roost on my property, as these precious wildlife predators also will kill my small dog, my poultry, and yes, my CAT. Plus they can't get to the mice that are the real problem, the ones inside the grain silos, the barns, and the house, so how are they helping?
Finally, I simply find the idea of slaughtering hundreds of cats whose only offense is being born and trying to survive sickening. I find it incredible that you are actually trying to call this the "humane" solution.
February 3, 2010 4:53 PM
If Alley Cats has stepped in and offered to help them why aren't you taking them up on their offer? I guess it is just easier to kill those cats that are just trying to live their lives. They can survive outside. They just need to be spayed & neutered. I am sick of the old school mentality that still exists in this world. I am sure that department is being run by some old frustrated white guy who hates everything & anybody but himself! We need to get rid of those type of people and then the world wouldbe a more compassionate place.LET THOSE CATS LIVE.
February 5, 2010 4:44 PM
Thank you, City of Evansville, for working with the Tree House Humane Society to trap, neuter, and release the remaining cats. However, there were lives needlessly lost of the cats that were killed before this humane approach was taken. PLEASE, start with the humane approach next time. It is the right thing to do.
February 5, 2010 10:08 PM
On February 5, I submitted a comment about the feral cat situation prior to the posted comments of Rita Cervantes at 4:44 pm and Renee Wener at 10:08 pm. on the same date. My comment was entered prior to the posted update at 4:33 pm about the cats status.
It appears, Mr. Bobkiewicz, you have censored my comment although it did not violate the blog policy--shameful.
Peoria Area Voices for Animals
www.AnimalRightsPeoria.org
February 7, 2010 12:34 PM
I'm deeply saddened for cats that unfortunately ended up in this city. If only they knew they are going to be killed, i'm sure they'd gladly run away to the next town where they might have a chance at life and a permanent home. If an organization reached out and offered help with these cats, why not take it? Evanston is still spending money and time regardless, so they might as well take the help and do the right thing. Someone once said, "you can tell a persons kindness by the way they treat animals". This city must be really unkind. PLEASE reconsider and take the help that's been offered by Alley Cats.
February 9, 2010 6:18 PM
Please consider a more humane method to deal with this. Alley Cat Allies at alleycat.org can advise on how to Trap, Neuter, and Relocate the cats. Surely, that would be more humane than euthanizing them. Or the Humane Society could be contacted.
January 28, 2010 11:18 AM