The West Virginia legislature is considering a bill that would allow feral and abandoned cats to live in managed colonies.

Thanks to the work of Save a Kitty Feral Cat Program, the bill, SB 560, would require counties and cities to permit local organizations to oversee feral cat colonies.

There are certain conditions, of course, but this is an important step in ending the trapping and killing of these cats by law enforcement and animal control. It is estimated 30-40% of animals killed in public shelters are feral or shy cats. Many shelters have a policy of simply killing cats found to be feral. Many times cats are treated as feral and killed when they are really just frightened or shy.

Under the bill a local organization would be responsible for recruiting and approving feral cat caregivers, resolving disputes, and keeping records of the numbers of colonies and cats, numbers spayed/neutered under a Trap Neuter Return (TNR) Program, and numbers of cats placed in homes.

Feral cat caregivers would be required to register the colony, make reasonable efforts to spay/neuter and vaccinate the cats, provide food and water and medical care, remove kittens for placement into homes, and keep records.    

Cats that are part of a feral cat colony and have been vaccinated and spayed/neutered will have their left ears tipped. Animal control that seizes a cat with its left ear tipped will contact the administrator who can locate the caregiver and arrange the return of the cat to the colony.

At the same time animal control will be able to seize cats that have not been vaccinated for rabies and appear to have the disease and those that are creating a nuisance the caretaker has not been able to stop. Animal control can also seize cats if there are multiple violations by the caregiver and the organization has not been able to find an alternative.

Interestingly, the new law would require owners of domesticated cats to provide them with adequate food, water and shelter and not allow them to roam unsupervised if they are in heat. Owners would be responsible for nuisances created by their cats.     

Click here for a copy of the bill.

What You Can Do

The bill was introduced by Senator Boley.  It is now pending in the Senate Agriculture Committee. Please click on committee members' names below and write (faxes are best) and call each one and urge them to vote for this important legislation, S.B. 560, a bill to allow local communities to reduce populations of feral cats through trapping, neutering and returning them to managed colonies.  

Senator Edgell - Chair
Senator Love - Vice-Chair
Senator Bailey
Senator Helmick
Senator Hunter
Senator Sharpe
Senator Unger
Senator Barnes
Senator Facemyer
Senator Guills
Senator Sypolt

If you live in West Virginia, click here to find your legislators and also write or call them and urge them to vote yes on S.B. 560. Tell them you live in their district.

For more information on managed feral cat colonies and TNR, click here  or visit http://www.alleycatallies.org/

Click here for more information about Save a Kitty Feral Cat Program