CAThens Happens

Written and Photographed by Eric Boll

Staff Writer Spread designed by Emily Zeiler

Without a doubt, one of Athens’ most famous residents is Pumpkin, an orange tomcat who has amassed thousands of likes, retweets, favorites and shares across social media platforms.

Residing at the Athens County Board of Elections, Pumpkin has won the “Best Window Display” and “Best Public Figure” award from the Athens NEWS “Best of Athens” competition.

However, he has recently gained competition, as other local businesses have adopted their own cats.

Clowes Auto Repair, located on East State Street, recently adopted a cat named Casper. According to Brandy Felts, Casper’s owner, Casper was found at a junkyard this past spring while they were looking to buy a car trailer.

Casper was very sick when Felts first found him, with severe infections in both of his eyes and his respiratory system. Initially, Felts planned to put Casper up for adoption when he was healthy, but that quickly changed.

“He’s stolen the heart of my 10-yearold and myself,” Felts said.

Felts said at first, Casper wanted to be held nonstop. But as his health improved as he grew older, Casper became more energetic and mischievous.

It’s not uncommon to find Athens cats living in odd places, such as beneath buildings. Heather McDowell, a board member of the Athens County Humane Society, recalled that when Athens County had a cat shelter, it quickly became overwhelmed. This was especially due in part to litters of kittens being dumped there.

“The euthenesia rate was so high,” McDowell said. “We couldn’t manage it.”

In response, the Humane Society pivoted and began to focus their attention on a spay and neuter program. Making stops throughout local communities in the county in their mobile clinic, the program offers cost effective sterilization.

The Humane Society hasn’t completely abandoned cats, however, as they still run a small adoption program.

Another reason for the pivot to spay and neuter is cost constraints. According to McDowell, the local government helps to fund the dog control program but does not offer the same amount for feline control. The Humane Society does receive funding and donations from the community as well as businesses, which has helped to fund their feline control programs.

“A lot of the businesses are involved in the Humane Society. We have such a great community of pet lovers,” McDowell said.

Like many Athens residents and Twitter users, McDowell loves the business cats and wishes more businesses would hire a furry friend.

“I love (the business cats),” McDowell said. “It’s something we would encourage more of.”

Casper and his owner Brandy Felts