The Jefferson City Council heard its first report of a program that was approved by the Council less than one year ago.

The Council approved an ordinance change in July of 2021 to include feral cats and cat colonies, along with identifying caregivers of those colonies and using the trap-neuter-release (TNR) program. It was mentioned at last Tuesday’s City Council meeting that less than 50 cats had been seized in 2021, with 31 going through the TNR process, some at the expense of the caregiver and some through grant funds, 14 were found to be adoptable through People for Animal Welfare Society (PAWS) of Greene County and four cats had to be euthanized because of an illness. 

City Administrator Mike Palmer is excited about the preliminary results of how TNR is working to eventually reduce the overall number of feral cats within the city. Part of the ordinance requires a caregiver of a cat colony to register it as such with the city, which Palmer says no one has done yet, but he feels progress is being made.

“Our police department right away went out and notified some, more of a complaint driven basis. The idea that people were made aware that they have to register or they can disband the colony. Apparently more of them are electing to disband the colony or contact through PAWS to have the TNR done.” 

Linn Price is one of the organizers working with the TNR program and has identified 13 areas in town where cat colonies are prevalent. It was also mentioned that grant funds are still available for cats to be TNR’ed and microchipped. Palmer asks for those who think they might be a cat colony caregiver to contact City Hall and register.