Animal advocates say get outdoor cats fixed as 'kitten season' ramps up

Kitten season is ramping up according to animal advocates. When the weather gets warmer more strays tend to have babies. 

Volunteers at TNR in Warren are reminding people it’s important to trap the cats and get them fixed so they can live happily and safely.

“What will happen is that once they’re spayed and neutered and returned, the colony will finally die out,” Bob Barasch, a volunteer at TNR said. "If they try to take them somewhere cats are very territorial, they're gunna come right back."

TNR has traps available to loan out if people need to catch any strays. Anyone can come to their office at 2428 Elm Rd NE in Warren on Wednesdays and Sundays from 10:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. to register to catch a cat.

TNR does not catch the cats themselves but they will give out as many traps as someone needs. Once an animal is caught they must bring the cat to the Warren location or another predetermined vet location to get spayed or neutered. 

Outdoor cats cost $30 to be spayed or neutered. The animals also gets a rabies and pain shot. Right now, TNR is having a “mommy and me” special. A mother cat costs $35 to be neutered and each kitten brought in with her is $20.

“It's worth it because it's the only way they're going to get control of the situation,” Barasch said. 

Barasch said a typical vet bill for the surgery could be as high as several hundred dollars. TNR is able to keep its cost low because of donations and grants. 

“All the funds that we raise go to the cats,” Barasch said about the volunteer organization.

The volunteers said it's never a good idea to use methods you see online to deter stray cats - like sprays or cleaning items - because it could poison them.