Working Cats on a Cannabis Farm

Working Cats on a Cannabis Farm

By Alonzo Orozco

Editor’s note: Because unwanted cats and kittens often are dumped, the names and locations of farmers and ranchers are intentionally vague in this article.

By doing what they do best, industrious felines are helping Central Coast cannabis growers.

“Cats love to hunt, they hunt for small things that move … lizards, rabbits, opossums, squirrels, also birds …,” explains Randi Fairbrother, founder of Catalyst for Cats, a Santa Barbara County-based organization whose primary goal is preventing the suffering of cats, and its main strategy is the reduction and control of feral cat populations within Santa Barbara County through its Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) and feeding programs.

Volunteers humanely trap cats in feral colonies, neuter or spay them, return the cats to their “homes” or relocate them to farms, barns, and ranches, where the felines earn their room and board by keeping vermin and other pests at bay. Eventually, the colony dies out because unwanted kittens are not being born. More than 20 years ago, Catalyst for Cats helped Newton control the feral cat population on his cannabis ranch off Route 166. It was spring and the females already had dropped their litters. Fairbrother recalls having to make multiple trips to get the job done. “We got over two dozen kittens out of there for adoption and all the others TNR’d,” recalls Fairbrother. Before adoption, all kittens are spayed or neutered.

As the years went by, Newton developed an admiration for his four-legged helpers. “For me, it was watching them lounge around in trees, that’s what I liked,” he says. “Between him and another rancher, his cannabis farm had around 50 cats at one time.”

Though the felines were ranch regulars, the cannabis cultivator didn’t consider them pets, as some roamed far away from the trailer, so it became difficult to give them names. “Feral cats are scared of people, you can have kittens and can cuddle with them, but feral cats are wild,” he explains. “But, they also we’re good at keeping rodents away from the storage areas.”

Eventually, his feline population began to dwindle. “There are natural predators up there: bears, bobcats, mountain lions, hawks, eagles, who knows … ,” suggests Newton as possible reasons for their disappearance. After spending some time out of the country, he noticed that the cats were not being fed and given proper care. Two years ago, he decided to move out, still retaining ownership of the land while renting another ranch to reside. Aside from maybe a couple of the cats, Newton brought the majority of his feline population with him.

“Feral cats are perfect when they’re fixed, they’re lovely,” says the longtime rancher who continues to grow cannabis at his new locale, and has since

Hanna Brand 1980. Belinda Burns, relocation coordinator for Catalyst for Cats, agrees and notes the organization loves having nursery relocation sites. “It’s very safe for the cats,” she explains. Working with ASAP (Animal Shelter Assistance Program), Burns helped relocate kittens and a mom cat to a Carpinteria farm. Although, there were some anxious moments when the staff was unable to locate the kittens at one point, it turned out to have a happy ending, as the mother and her offspring were reunited.

Many such cat tales don’t end as well, especially during a pandemic. “Unfortunately, because of COVID–19, TNR surgeries are at a standstill and it is a big set back to the efforts of many. We hope the programs will resume soon,” reports Fairbrother, who predicts an onslaught of unwanted kittens in the near future. C S

Hanna Brand

TNR

Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) humanely and effectively manages feral cat colonies by reducing free roaming cat populations. The process involves trapping cats, spaying and neutering them, and ear-tipping for identification. If possible, cats are vaccinated for rabies and given additional veterinarian care. Then, cats are returned to their colonies/ territories where a dedicated caregiver feeds them and looks after their welfare, or they are relocated for jobs such as barn and farm cats. Tame adults and kittens that can be socialized are placed for adoption. Learn more at:

Catalyst for Cats: www.catalystforcats.org Alley Cat Allies: www.alleycat.org Neighborhood Cats: www.neighborhoodcats.org

Catalyst for Cats