Kingsville, a city grappling with an increasing population of stray cats, has embarked on an innovative program to manage the issue. The recently introduced initiative involves capturing outdoor cats, performing spaying or neutering procedures, and subsequently releasing them back into their respective neighborhoods.
The surge in the stray animal population has strained the resources of the Kingsville Animal Shelter. However, the catch and release program offers a dual benefit – it helps alleviate the pressure on shelter facilities while working to curb the burgeoning population of outdoor cats.
David Soto, a Kingsville resident, expressed the necessity of the program, citing instances where he observed an alarming concentration of cats in certain areas. “One night I counted 16 cats all in these two houses around here,” Soto remarked.
City of Kingsville Health Director, Emilio Garcia, acknowledged the prevalence of cat colonies in many neighborhoods. To tackle the issue, the city’s budget allows animal control officers to trap stray cats, perform spaying or neutering procedures, and release them back into their familiar environments.
“Some people seem to like it. Some people don’t, they just don’t like cats. It’s good for the community; we put them back in the areas where they come from, that keeps them from reproducing to have more kittens,” Garcia explained.
The program not only addresses the overpopulation concern but also contributes to disease control and minimizes the need for shelter euthanasia. Garcia reported that, in the past year, the shelter’s euthanasia rate remained at zero.
Having been in operation for over a year, the catch and release program has seen tangible results. In 2023, 102 cats were successfully neutered, and in the current fiscal year (from October onwards), 25 cats have undergone treatment. Neutered cats are identifiable by the trimming of one of their ear tips.
Garcia provided insight into the program’s execution, explaining, “The trap and release program is done by us; we go out and set traps in the evening. We’ll capture them, bring them in, and set up appointments with the individuals that provide us these low-cost spay/neuter surgeries. We’ll take them to Corpus and bring them back whenever they get done with them.”
During a visit to the shelter, 3NEWS observed an adoption room with nearly every kennel empty, underscoring the success of the program. Garcia expressed satisfaction with the positive impact, stating, “It’s gone down quite a bit, the population.”
Looking ahead, Garcia emphasized the program’s continuity and expressed intentions to seek grants that could facilitate its expansion. He encouraged pet owners to opt for spaying or neutering and highlighted low-cost procedures offered by organizations like PAAC-People Assisting Animal Control in Corpus Christi.
In Corpus Christi, PAAC officials noted the city’s need for approximately 45,000 community surgeries to achieve zero growth in the outdoor cat population. The organization, which performed over 1,000 spaying or neutering procedures for “community” cats last year, continues its efforts to combat cat overpopulation beyond Kingsville’s borders.
