City Cats to Country Cats: So-Long Hummers, Hello Hummingbirds!

August 22, 2008 : 7:03 PM

At-risk feral cats find a friend in the perfect partnership

The No More Homeless Pets Utah’s Feral Fix program is a testament to what can be done for the feral cats living in the big city. Their groundbreaking programs have changed the way ferals are viewed and treated in Salt Lake City and beyond. Of course they believe in TNR (trap-neuter-return) but sometimes you’ve just got to relocate! That’s where their Southern cousins, the Best Friends Feral Cat Program, can be quite accommodating, and we’re just a phone call away!

Shelly Kotter, who runs the Best Friends program, helps over 2,000 cats per year and her beat is over hundreds of square miles in the most rural parts of Utah! She’s cultivated the caregivers to where they’re more a family than anything else. Her reputation precedes her – and that’s how she was able to help the 15 displaced city slickers that needed a new ponderosa to call home!

Charlie, the beloved kitty with the golden eyes gets ready for spa treatment!

Amanda Bell, the Community Programs Coordinator for NMHPU contacted Shelly when a colony of kitties was in clear and present danger. They had been loved by an elderly couple, after they had discovered them living at a repair garage and were in poor shape. The couple called NMHPU who helped them right away by spay/neutering all the cats and helped get them into ship shape. The couple cared for the cats with the garage owner’s permission for months. Then tragedy struck the couple and a dying wish was to make sure the cats were taken care of.

The garage owner was approached to see if he could pick up the slack and continue to care for the cats and make sure they were all fixed. He was not the most cooperative and wouldn’t be reliable to give the cats the daily care they required. Fortunately, NMHPU found an angel in Lezlee Beckstead who immediately volunteered to feed, water and catch up on any TNR that was needed. With the cats now getting proper care, all was still not well as the shelter that had been their home was demolished when the garage owner sold the property! It seemed like these kitties couldn’t catch a break!

Lezlee, who had been a feral cat actionista for over 5 years, had recently gotten involved with NMHPU because of the Door Hanger Campaign, and she knew that everyday that passed was putting the colony deeper into harm’s way. The cats were all looking worse for the wear, and by the time the transport was set up, there were quite a few cats limping and seeming very anxious.

Third Time’s A Charm!
Luckily, Shelly had been working her magic and had the right home lined up! Enter the next hero: Larry Baer. Larry has an organic vegetable farm set on over 20 acres in Deersprings, UT. There are no paved road for miles and miles, and his enclave is an idyllic feral cat haven. Having heard about the Best Friends Feral Cat Program from Shelly’s Dad, he thought it was a great solution to his chipmunks in the peas and lettuce problem! After talking to Shelly, he built an enclosure to Shelly’s specs and it was a perfect pad for this colony to get acclimated to their new country surroundings!

Larry and Shelly share the love!

“This farm sits in the middle of the greatest of God’s green Earth! I’ve got separated sections for the crops and that will give the cats ample places to run, play and escape if necessary. Woodpiles and the other building materials from our working farm add to the spots for the cats to play the longest game of hide and seek!” Larry shared.

Kitty digging new digs!

As we get a tour of the compound it is evident that all parties involved are pleased as punch! Especially Charlie, a particular favorite of Lezlee’s, who through his intense gaze tells you he has witnessed so much, but nothing as grand as this!

Breaking Update from Shelly:
I just wanted to let you know the relocation has been going very well. I am taking two more out for relocation, these are the last of the colony. I am happy to report that all the cats are doing well even though three have escaped the in-closer. They are all still around two of them come right up to Larry for attention. The other one has been seen hanging out in the wood pile. I think when we introduce the last two we will go ahead and let out the remaining cats.

Charlie poses with friends in his new home!

Other Recent Collaborations for the Ferals of Utah!
Best Friends Funds 2,000 Spay/Neuters
Teaming Up to Counsel the St. George Council

How You Can Get Involved!
If you live in the Southern Utah area and there are feral cats in your community that you would like to help, please contact Shelly Kotter at (435) 689-1221 or email her at shellyk@bestfriends.org

Check out the No More Homeless Pets Utah website to learn how to get involved with their programs! Click here for more info.

Not in the area but still want to help? Check out the following resources:
Best Friends Resource Library
Best Friends Special Guest’s Archives
Alley Cat Allies
Neighborhood Cats
Project Bay Cat (tool kit for humane feral cat population control)

by Denise LeBeau, Best Friends staff
images by Sarah Ause, Best Friends photographer & Amanda Bell, NMHPU staff

Comments

August 29, 2008 at 6:01 PM
posted by: lezleeb

The last two cats have been taken to Larry's wonderful place today. They will love it. Way to go Amanda!

August 28, 2008 at 7:27 PM
posted by: TNRdoesNotWork

"All [domestic] cats are related to one another, and they all come from the same place, and that's the Near East" Driscoll said. Today's domestic cats probably all descend from the wild cat native to the area, Felis s. lybica.

http://www.forbes.com/health/feeds/hscout/2007/06/28/hscout606011.html

August 28, 2008 at 5:21 PM
posted by: veganschmegan

The "domestic cat" or house cat or whatever you want to call it, was previously believed to have been domesticated in ancient Egypt. However, they actually came from as few as five self-domesticating African Wildcats at about 8000 BC.

While our cool companions, house cats, domesticated themselves.. they still retain those "wild" components of their ancestors.

But isn't that what makes them so versatile and easily adaptable? YES! They can be purring, tame, house pets... or they can be feral, amazing "wild" creatures.

Great story! Great job, Lezlee!

August 28, 2008 at 4:36 PM
posted by: TNRdoesNotWork

Not really. Look at Rat Patrol and the Terms and Conditions.

August 28, 2008 at 11:54 AM
posted by: alex

TNRdnw, I may make whatever character judgements I wish - thanks though.

August 28, 2008 at 2:00 AM
posted by: TNRdoesNotWork

That's m'aam to you. :)

No, not Mars - from us. We created this animal. We domesticated felis s lybica - a true wild cat - the ancestor of the domestic cat.

My facts are just fine, thanks. TNR has not been proven to reduce the number of homeless cats through natural attrition.

And yes, man has destroyed a lot. And we continue to affect our land/our habitat by allowing cats to roam, dumping them, and returning them through TNR.

They aren't putting themselves back.

August 27, 2008 at 5:39 PM
posted by: nj2tou

So, tnrdoesnotwork, humans are indigenous to the planet, but cats aren't?? Then where praytell did they come from? Mars? Please.

Man is THE most invasive, destructive being on the planet. Everywhere man goes, he invades and destroys native habitats and their inhabitants.

And all the invasive animals? Guess who put them there? MAN.

Humankind is destroying this planet, not some cats, who because of uncaring, selfish MAN, are where they shouldn't be, breeding out of control until TNR, which DOES work, is implemented.

Get YOUR facts straight sir.

August 26, 2008 at 7:39 PM
posted by: TNRdoesNotWork

kittychump, you seem to be confusing species and ethnicity. In fact, your comments may be offensive as they imply that we humans are not all the same species. But, of course, we are - homosapiens. While we may be invasive, we are all native to the planet - the domestic cat is not.

Invasive, non-natives can wreak havoc on the ecosystem - whether we are talking about the Asian long-horned beetle or the Brazilian Pepper Plant or zebra mussels or nutria or domestic cats.

The out-of-control population of the domestic cat is vastly larger than ALL native predators put together.

That is cause for concern and a good reason to remain truly green and not let cats run loose.

August 26, 2008 at 7:29 PM
posted by: kittychump

This is a wonderful, successful TNR story - and the tie-in to organic farming couldn't be more apt. As to the nay-saying below, I would answer this way: there's nothing 'natural' to the North American ecosystem, about the presence most of the PEOPLE who live here now, who came from other continents; and yet nobody in their right mind would suggest euthanizing those non-indigenous humans just because they came from elsewhere. All species that are here on the continent must learn to live together now - that is the reality. This wonderful example of TNR collaboration is an example of an evolving change - based upon compassion, creativity, and "elbow grease!" :D WELL DONE ALL!! :)

August 26, 2008 at 6:21 PM
posted by: TNRdoesNotWork

Hi Alex,

Kindly refrain from making character remarks.

Actually, I am pretty well-informed and have done about five years worth of homework regarding TNR. If you took a look at the link to the barn cat page, which provides a link to a study and other links as well, you would understand my point of view. You may not agree, but you would understand.

You are not correct in saying that 'this is nature' because the domestic cat is not a natural part of the environment. The cat does have an instinct to hunt, but she has no place in any North American ecosystem.

August 26, 2008 at 3:08 PM
posted by: alex

To the posting below: TNR does work - you are simply uninformed. There is EVERYTHING green about cats catching rodents - it's nature and as long as these cats are fed and cared for, they will certainly not hurt the population of chipmunks by any means. Do your homework first and then post - although judging by the name you chose, it seems to me that you logged on specifically to comment on this posting - I wonder why you would do that...vindictive maybe?

August 26, 2008 at 2:26 AM
posted by: TNRdoesNotWork

How terrible. There is nothing organic or green or environmentally friendly about cats killing native wildlife (chipmunks included) and defecating near grain or produce.

http://www.tnrrealitycheck.com/barn_cats.asp

And the title of this piece? That is just in poor taste (no pun intended), especially since I had the 'honor' of watching a caught by cat hummingbird die. What a waste of a life.

These cats do not even seem that feral if they want attention. They should have been enclosed or given a permanent indoor home.

August 25, 2008 at 11:54 PM
posted by: Spax

Yeah, this is great news. We helped built an enclosure over the 4th of July weekend to relocate a colony in our area. It's so rewarding to help these kitties that seem out of luck one moment, but then get rescued the next by all of us stepping in to help.
Andrea

August 25, 2008 at 6:09 PM
posted by: QMD333

Larry's farm is a TRUE shelter.......it is a place where the cats will be loved, happy and allowed to LIVE.

August 25, 2008 at 6:00 PM
posted by: QMD333

To Shelly, Larry and everyone else involved,
Thank you for being such wonderful people!!

Thank you for giving those precious souls the love and life that they deserve!

August 25, 2008 at 1:29 PM
posted by: lezleeb

I think that Charlie and all the other cats will love their new home. What a wonderful place to be relocated to. It's beautiful and quiet, no cars to worry about. Charlie, you will love this place... no more hiding, come out and enjoy life! Take care little buddy.

August 22, 2008 at 8:35 PM
posted by: bogiedew

What a wonderful outcome for these kitties..I am sure they are going to love their new home! They are all beautiful.