City of Visalia wrestling with feral cat problem

VISALIA, Calif. (KFSN) -- One local organization that deals with feral cats says at one point there were 40 colonies in the city of Visalia. Several cats have been seen in the area, including downtown. The city says it's a problem that can be managed if people know how to approach the situation.

There are all kinds of cats to choose from at the Valley Oak SPCA in Visalia -- many still looking for a place to call home. But in the wild, or in this case Downtown Visalia, the streets are home for these cats.

"True feral cats, if it's an adult, you can't domesticate a feral cat like that," said Mario Cifuentez with the city of Visalia.

Cifuentez oversees the animal control program which also happens to be expanding. The new shelter is meant for strays and vicious animal problems, but not feral cats. However, he says feral cat colonies can be managed, and if it's done right the colony will ultimately shrink and go away.

"The whole goal is to reach out to those communities through trap and release programs," said Cifuentez.

The Valley Oak SPCA is one agency that works to catch, spay or neuter feral cats, then releases them back to their colonies.

"It allows them to live an easier life and just live out their life without reproducing," said Tami Crawford, executive director of the Valley Oak SPCA.

Crawford says the life span of a feral cat is only 6 to 8 years. If every cat in a colony is spayed or neutered, that colony will die off. But both the city and SPCA need residents' help to make it happen.

"I know it can be frustrating when you have a lot of cats around your house," said Crawford.

Crawford says there are resources available. She says feral cat colonies need caretakers, someone to regularly feed them, get them spayed or neutered, then the colony will eventually go away.

If you have feral cats and find a litter, kittens can be trained to be domestic animals. You just need to take them in to be checked out, and spayed or neutered.