Jackson Galaxy, host of Animal Planet’s, “My Cat from Hell”
Wednesday, October 16th, marks the 14th anniversary of the annual National Feral Cat Day. Alley Cat Allies has teamed up with Jackson Galaxy, host of “My Cat from Hell” on Animal Planet, to promote awareness of community cat care with a PSA (Public Service Announcement).
This year’s theme is TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return)- from the Alley to….Main Street – to represent how far TNR has come in the U.S.
“Trap-Neuter-Return has become the mainstream way to care for community cats,” says Becky Robinson, president and founder of Alley Cat Allies. “If your local shelter isn’t doing TNR they are behind the times, and you should ask them to adopt the program. It saves lives and tax dollars.”
In a phone interview I had with Liz Holt, Alley Cat Allies Staff Attorney, she said trapping and killing by animal control agencies hasn’t proven to reduce the feral cat population in the nation.
In the PSA, Galaxy states: “Whether you call them family cats, house cats, feral cats, community cats, alley cats…it doesn’t matter.” “They are our cats, our community cats, and they deserve our love and our protection.”
Galaxy works with all kinds of cats on his show as the show title implies. If you’ve ever seen the show, you know he is a cat behaviorist on a mission to change and/or resolve conflict between cats and their parents so cats can remain in their homes.
According to Alley Cat Allies, there are over 450 cities and counties with official ordinances or policies endorsing TNR and there are more than 600 nonprofit groups across the country practicing TNR.
Holtz stated the Animal Control Agencies who don’t support TNR deters motivation among the people who live in that area to help with the feral cat problem.
What about the opponents of TNR who say it doesn’t work? Holtz told me TNR is the only method that has helped to reduce the feral cat problem. Trapping and killing hasn’t worked which is what most shelters who don’t endorse TNR do. If you take a feral cat to a non-supportive TNR shelter, the cat is almost always euthanized. Most times, feral cats lose their lives as soon as they are turned over to the shelter.
Holtz also relayed to me that Alley Cat Allies mission is to help all cats, not only feral. Their ultimate goal would be to see the extinction of feral cats through TNR but Holtz doesn’t expect to see it during her lifetime. It is a lofty goal which Alley Cat Allies works on diligently the entire year.
With tomorrow’s National Feral Cat Day, Alley Cat Alles employees will be building feral cat dens. Events are planned across the nation and in other countries as well. TNR has international support that has ignited people across the globe to eradicate the feral cat issue.
In the PSA, Jackson Galaxy says “All Cats Deserve Love and Protection.” The important message to gain from the video is that outdoor cats deserve the same love and respect as the cats who share our homes.
Click this link to view the Alley Cat Allies PSA featuring Jackson Galaxy.
Do you believe TNR is the solution to the feral cat problem that exists not only in the U.S. but around the world?
Alley Cat Allies Facebook page.
.
I’m sorry I don’t believe that trap neuter and return works to get rid of feral cats . I see these cats and they’re killing rabbits . have you ever heard a rabbit scream while it’s being killed by a cat ?? it is a horrible sound . there seems to be as many cats as there were a few years ago I don’t see any change .
My Cat from Hell is a cool show! Like Cat Diddy!
I love animals but I have a tough time with feral cats. THey destory a lot. I don’t like to have feral colonies where I live. They come into my yard and I’m not okay with that. I can appreciate those who work the colonies, their time and money spent but I feel these cats have a rough life.