Population of feral cats continues to grow as work on T-N-R program continues (Linda Tooth image)

By Brian Konrad

Group working to shelter feral cats in advance of T-N-R program in spring

Nov 14, 2023 | 3:54 PM

MEDICINE HAT — Work continues to bring a trap, neuter and release clinic to Medicine Hat, but in the meantime the population of feral cats continues to grow.

Community cat care giver Linda Tooth says one female can have as many as 3 litters of kittens a year and over a lifetime can give birth to as many as 100 kittens.

She says she’s getting calls daily from people who’ve found a cat with kittens in their yards, and says the situation is out of control.

A group out of Calgary has been contacted to conduct a T-N-R program here, but that likely won’t happen until the spring.

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In the meantime Tooth and others are doing what they can.

“We’ve got pockets in the city of Medicine Hat we’re feeding twice a day, 7 days a week,” says Tooth.

Efforts are also underway to prepare shelter for the feral cats to get them through the winter season, even as they work towards a fundraising effort to pay for the T-N-R program in the spring.

The problem isn’t confined to Medicine Hat either.

“We’ve had some issues in Redcliff with kittens that have been found in dumpsters, tied up in plastic bags,” in what Tooth describes as “horrific”.

She is planning to approach Redcliff town council soon with a view to establishing a T-N-R program in that community as well.