You guys!
I don’t know how I feel about this, so I wanted to share it with you. Tree House is making cats work. No lie. They have a special program that actually gives cats jobs! Let’s learn more.
What is it?
It’s called “Cats at Work” (they don’t even try to hide their intentions!) and it’s a program that’s taking place around Chicago, the suburbs, and even farther.
Who is it for?
It is for outdoor feral cats only. I guess that’s not so bad since they’re not pulling cozy cats off couches, but still.
What do the feral cats do?
Tree House finds feral cats that are in danger in some way – living in colonies that are overcrowded or full of diseases, don’t have enough food, are in an area that can present dangers to the cats – and they relocate those cats to areas where people actually want them. Why would they want them? To control the rodent population, of course! Actually, this is starting to sound like the cats are badasses.
How does it work?
If a person (residential, factory, industrial, or gardening) is having a rodent problem, they call Tree House and say “I would like X number of cats.” Tree House then traps cats that are in bad situations, gives them health screenings, vaccines, and medications, if needed, and then moves them to the new location. A home base area is set up for the cats where they live in giant acclimation crates for three weeks in order to identify this new area as home. After three weeks, they’re released from the crates and are on patrol! The person who requested the cats is in charge of a regular feeding schedule, veterinary care through Tree House (if needed), and scooping a litter box. And voila! Rat problem solved.
Did you know that cats who are regularly fed are actually better hunters than cats who hunt to survive? It’s true!
Did you also know that just the scent of cats can keep rodents away from an area? Also true!
If you’re interested in knowing more, the CATastrophes Web Series just did a guest episode for Animalist News about the whole thing! They also did their own, semi-informative video about the program. You can check them both out below.
If you’re interested in this program, contact Tree House! They don’t just service Chicago with these feral cats. They’ve gone all the way up to Wisconsin and are willing to go beyond that, if requested.
Actually, I’ve convinced myself. This isn’t so bad as long as no one takes MY couch away. I’m watching you, Tree House.
Love,
Crepes.
PS.
Speaking of Feral cats…
did you know tomorrow is National Feral Cat day? This is a great time to tell all you LA area peeps that our favorite West Coast rescue Kitty Bungalow Charm School for Wayward Cats is having its annual Feral Cat Photography Show. This year’s show will hang at Angel City Brewery Gallery Space from October 16th to the 19th with an opening reception on the 16th from 6:30 to 10:30 pm. The event is free and open to the public. There’s even going to be a walk-in cattery where you can meet some of the residents and possibly even go home with your newest family member!
If you don’t live near LA but know someone who does, please share and encourage them to attend! It’s for a great cause helping an awesome rescue and feral cats.
Kitty Bungalow is giving us two of their limited edition National Feral Cat Day posters to giveaway! If you’d like ta chance to win one, leave a comment below letting me know you want to be entered. Two winners will be drawn randomly from all entries and announced next Tuesday. Entries accepted from now until 11:49 pm on Sunday, October 19th.
For more information: http://www.kittybungalow.org/nfcd.html
What a great program and post, yay for giving these cats better places to live and a job to do! (You guys cracked us up with that first video, thanks!)
i think this is a good idea Crepes. I gonna float it at Fix Our Ferals fund raiser Sunday night. And I am certainly with you, I am NOT giving up my cushy day job as cat bed warmer
I hope you don’t get pulled off your cozy couch either, Crepes, but Cats at Work sure sounds like a great idea! And we would love to win one of those posters 🙂
Great post! Raising awareness of this issue is so important and just a bit of effort can make a huge difference in these fur babies lives! The Kitty Bungalow event sounds great!
As long as someone is checking up on their new homes to make sure they are working out I think it is a great idea!
What a great initiative. Our largest local TNR orgnaization is often looking for homes for ferals who need to be relocated for one reason or another but we don’t think they offer as much support as Treehouse to get the new guys settled into their home territory. Well done!
What a fantastic initiative! and a great way to rehome Feral cats. Love the video promotions and your facial expressions are just priceless!!
Ode to Working Cats
Tumble out of bed and stumble to the alley
Pour myself a cup of Meow Mix
Yawning and stretching trying to come to life
Run down the alley and my blood starts pumping
In my alley the rats start running
with cats like me on the job from 9-5
Working 9-5 what a way to make a living
with us cats its all eatin and no giving
we use our smarts and get those ratties!
they stand no chance with usworking catiies!
we get to live and we have a job!
keeping neigborhoods clean and rat free!
Its enough to keep us happy if you let us!
working 9-5 what a way to make a living
with us cats its all eating and no giving
we use our smarts and get those ratties!
they stand no chance with us working catties!
we have seen online where several groups have programs like this (Arizona Humane is one of them). our rescue places ferals as barn cats but we sure don’t have as many places for them as we would like….
Interesting program ! Do they include a spay and neuter action too ? Purrs
Of course! Some of the cats are already spayed/neutered because they come from other managed colonies that have gotten too large. The ones that aren’t already fixed get the surgery before they go back out! Great question! – Crepes.
There are some shelters (in cities located in L.A. county that aren’t the city of L.A.) that have similar programs. My human will be going to the Kitty Bungalow event!
When the outdoor cats in our neighborhood began to get eaten by coyotes the rat population got gross. But when people started to keep their pet cats inside, the coyotes started to eat the rats! I do really like the idea of this program. Domesticated animals (even ones gone feral) are always happier with a job. And all creatures great and small love having a purpose- even if that purpose is just being cute! 🙂