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The Kindest Solution Cats of Davidson seeks
to manage feral cat population in Davidson Cats of Davidson helps find homes for many of the litters of kittens born from area feral cats.
A feral cat can have up to 400 kittens in her lifetime. Only about 20 percent of those kittens will make it to adulthood. These are sobering statistics, but one when resident, Roni LaBarbera, became aware of how large the feral cat population is in Davidson, she decided she needed to take action in order to stop this cycle. Because there is no animal rescue organization in Davidson or funds allocated to help in trapping and spaying and neutering of feral cats, she formed Cats of Davidson last year at the height of the pandemic. LaBarbera had moved into a home on the west side of Davidson and started noticing the large community of feral cats nearby. She says feral cats (unowned domestic cats that live outdoors and avoid human contact) usually cannot be domesticated because they are not accustomed to being handled by other people. A friend loaned her equipment she could use, and she taught herself how to trap cats so they could then be transported to clinics that can vaccinate and spay/neuter them. Then they are released back into the community. Along the way she realized many of these feral cats are producing kittens at an alarming rate. She teamed up with another local resident Amy Doughten, to work out a plan to organize a foster plan for kittens so they could safely be adopted into loving homes. “If a kitten is between 8-10 weeks of age, it’s able to be socialized,” says Doughten. “Most are really sick, though. We end up with a lot of medical needs.” They often have painful eye ulcers and upper respiratory infections that require medication.
by Renee Roberson photos courtesy of Cats of Davidson
Doughten and LaBarbera self-funded the group for several months before other members in the community started asking how they could help. By sharing needs through their Facebook page, Cats of Davidson, they’ve been able to receive financial donations and necessary supplies and make contact with potential fosters. They now have 501c3 status and a board with five members. There’s always a lot to do. The organization has one volunteer who does nothing but call and book appointments for spaying the feral cats at area clinics such as the Humane Society of Charlotte, Stand for Animals Veterinary Clinic and SnipWell in Rock Hill, S.C. Once cats go through the spaying/neutering process, they receive a small marking on one ear and a tattoo that lets others know they’ve already been surgically treated. March through November is considered prime birthing season for cats, so the organization has its hands full. They handle all the adoptions of kittens themselves and only adopt kittens out in pairs, because it’s easier for them to become socialized with people that way. LaBarbera and Doughten say Cats of Davidson is looking for volunteers to drive cats into Charlotte for the spay and neuter appointments, volunteers to monitor traps, fosters for kittens as well as monetary donations for medical appointments, treatments, cat food, litter, and deworming medication. To learn more about the organization, or how you can help, visit www.facebook.com/CatsOfDavidson.
www.LNCurrents.com | JULY 2021
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