One of the biggest challenges to our efforts to create a time when there are No More Homeless Pets involves the plight and population of feral cats – also called community cats.  But with community care and partnerships with low-cost/high-volume spay neuter clinics, we can help limit the cat population growth while offering care and viable living conditions for the existing community cats.

The care of community cats will be the topic of conversation for this week’s Safe Humane Chicago CAN-TV show.  Best Friends Project Safe Humane Director Cynthia Bathurst will be talking with Yvette Piña, a self-taught feral cat expert who has fixed more than 300 cats in her own community.  Piña will talk about some of the myths, concerns and issues surrounding Chicago’s community cat population with an emphasis on keeping cats out of shelters and the importance of spay/neuter procedures.

“I would love to not see cats on the streets, but feral cats aren't adoptable – though many kind-hearted people do take them in,” explains Piña.  “The one thing ferals can't survive is life in a shelter – most shelters either don't admit feral cats or automatically euthanize them because a feral cat is unsocialized to people and just not adoptable. The most humane thing to do is to fix/vaccinate/microchip and return the cat to its neighborhood.”

Bathurst has worked with Piña on several animal welfare issues over the years.  She says that Piña’s efforts as an advocate and educator has had a profoundly positive impact on Chicago’s community cat population.

“Yvette never gives up.  She’s realistic and persistent – rare qualities,” says Bathurst.  “I met her working on canine issues but her focus on feral felines adds a needed dimension to creating safe, humane communities for all.”   

This topic is timely:  we’re coming up on winter in Chicago; a time when feral cats need our help the most.

“With cold weather upon us, it's important to provide some shelter from the elements for the cats,” says Piña.  “Some people put up winter housing for the cats and that’s wonderful.  But anyone can help by simply leaving their garage doors ajar.”


The Safe Humane Chicago TV program is a live call-in show airing every Thursday (except Thanksgiving) at 5:30 p.m. on  CAN-TV’s Hotline 21.   Check your local TV listings for the CAN-TV channel in your area.


Each week, we’ll post a preview of the guest and topic for the upcoming show.  So be sure to log in to the Best Friends Safe Humane Chicago Network and the Best Friends Chicago Network site  to read about upcoming shows.


For More Information on Community Cats

To learn more about community cats and how to help them, become a fan of the Best Friends' Focus on Felines campaign.

Read Best Friends' document, Solutions to Cat-related issues.

Click here for additional resources.

Photo by Clay Myers, Best Friends' photographer.