Fighting feline overpopulation

In an effort to curb an already out-of-control stray-cat population, veterinarians and volunteers from around Washington spend one weekend a month with the Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project.

The only organization of its kind in this state, the project -- started in 1997 by veterinarian Dr. Christine Wilford -- is a non-profit group that is dedicated to spaying, neutering and giving rabies vaccinations to feral cats (offspring of stray or abandoned domestic cats that revert to a wild state.)

Assisting the organizations efforts are UW students Kaja Halse, Jennifer Nehring and Tammy Chong, all of whom have found the Feral Cat Project to be an intense learning experience and a stepping stone to being accepted into veterinary school.

Halse, a sophomore studying zoology and Swedish, grew up riding horses competitively and has had a love for animals from an early age. This eventually led to her employment at the Cats Exclusive Veterinarian Clinic, where she met Dr. Wilford and, eventually, the Feral Cat Project.

"I really feel good at the end of each day, because I feel like I have made a difference," she said of volunteering. "It also feels good to work with people who are there because they want to be there, not because they have to."

Nehring, a fifth-year graduate student in the chemistry department, found out about the program while volunteering with PAWS, the largest animal-advocacy and direct-care organization in the Pacific Northwest.

"I thought the Feral Cat Project sounded like an interesting thing to check out and a good idea," she said. "I wanted to work as a volunteer and understood that there was a cat overpopulation problem."

Chong, a recent graduate with a BS in zoology, also worked at Cats Exclusive and began volunteering when Wilford persuaded her to do so.

"When I heard that this project was run by volunteers and donations, I was amazed," she said. "Christine [Wilford] and the other doctors were giving their time and money without any return. This project gets out there and shows that people can change the bad conditions. People usually talk about how they want to change the environment but few actually go out and do it."

Contributing to the Feral Cat Program's efforts has not always been fun or easy, but has offered the students an opportunity to learn about veterinary care.

"Potential volunteers should understand that this is not glamorous," said Nehring. "We deal with some really dirty and sick animals."

"A clinic like this forces you to learn not to be squeamish. Someone has to poke needles into the [cat's] skin. You have to get over any problems you might have from seeing blood or touching sensitive areas or it won't work out," Chang added.

For these three students, working with diseased animals is not a problem, as they have their sights set on becoming veterinarians.

"I hope to become an equine vet," said Halse. "And if I can't do that right away, I plan to use my international skills and work as vet technician in Stockholm, Sweden."

As for Chong, she will be applying for vet school for a second time this summer.

"Feral Cat has given me the chance to bulk up my resume, besides training me to teach others, multi-task and cope with a potentially stressful atmosphere," she said.

In June, Nehring will take time out of her hectic schedule to get married. Vet school is a possibility after that.

"I would go to any vet school that would take me," she said. "I would even go to Europe or New Zealand."

Although Wilford hopes each of her volunteers enjoy success, she is in no rush to see them go.

"Kaja is exceptional," she said. "She is devoted to the project and always willing to help. There are so many other things she could be doing.

"Tammy is one of the most patient volunteers I've ever had," said Wilford. "She never gets flustered, even though she is very compassionate for the animals."

"Jennifer is incredibly valuable to the project," she said. "I can totally delegate a project to her and not worry about it."

Wilford also wanted to point out that there are more volunteer jobs available than those directly dealing with the animals.

"There is a job here for everyone," she said. "They range from lower-stress projects such as fundraising and PR to working with the actual animals."

Interested volunteers can learn more about the Feral Cat Project by calling 528-8125 or visiting the Web site at www.spaycat.org.

Matt Schmidt is a student in the University of Washington School of Communications News Laboratory.