The TNR (Trap-Neuter-Return) movement in the United States found its early beginnings on college campuses. School authorities were plagued by colonies of feral cats, the result of "roommate cats" that had been left behind when their owners went home on vacation, or left the school permanently. For the most part unneutered, these throwaway cats bred freely and their numbers created real problems for administration. In some universities, the solution was to "trap and kill" the ferals. In other colleges, students, faculty, and administration reacted in a positive way, by the forumation of TNR programs. Texas Aggie is one of the more successful programs, and its population of homeless cats has been reduced substantially since the inauguration of its TNR program in 1988. The sad fact remains that these cats still remain homeless. Once they have reverted to feral behavior, their chances for successful adoption are remote, at best. Would you choose to allow a cat you'd roomed with for several years to end up with that fate? I think not.
Time for Accountability
Take a good, honest look at your answers to the questions I've posed. Are you satisfied that you could be a responsible parent to a cat, on campus and off? If so, I congratulate you, and I wish you many, many happy future years with your cat.
If, however, you have concluded that a cat roommate is not in your near future, there are other worthwhile options to both get your regular "cat fix," and to make a huge difference to homeless cats.
- Join a Campus TNR team, or start one yourself, if the need is there. On large campuses, this is almost always the case. Read the pages linked in the sidebar to find out more information on handling feral cats and how campus TNR groups are organized.
- Volunteer at a Shelter. Although volunteer work can be heartbreaking at times, it can also be immensely rewarding, to give love and attention to needy cats. Even cleaning cages and litter boxes is valuable work, and you'll have time to interact with their occupants at the same time. Should your volunteer work eventually evolve to becoming an adoption counselor, you can put these questions you've learned to good use, to ensure that the cats you adopt out will all enjoy homes with responsible, caring caregivers.
