Cat population explodes at a Texas prison after ‘working’ cats are deployed to hunt rats

Cat population explodes at a Texas prison after ‘working’ cats are deployed to hunt rats

AUSTIN (KXAN) — A jail in Texas adopted a couple of barn cats to address a rat challenge. Mainly because the cats weren’t spayed or neutered, a pair of a long time afterwards, they finished up with a cat problem too.

Austin Animals Alive! was contacted by a Texas jail, which questioned not to be named, about a feline infestation difficulty on their premises. The prison started off with two or a few cats and ended up with nearly 20, staff reported. 

Working cats are generally regarded as in barns, homes or prisons to assist mitigate rat infestations. APA! mentioned they are productive in controlling rodent populations. 

“It’s a great plan,” reported Kelly Holt, a senior manager for APA!’s cat application. “Where the issue began was that the cats weren’t spayed and neutered. So they finished up procreating and working with an overpopulation situation now.”

 “We wanted to assistance out and carry some of the cats (to the heart) where by we could get them the healthcare interest that they want and place them in eternally homes,” Holt additional. 

When shelter personnel last went to the jail, they were in a position to nab five of the cats roaming all around the grounds. Holt reported APA! will head back to the premises quickly to end the work. 

Holt said it was very good they were in a position to carry the cats into the center, as some had medical ailments that wanted expert care. One particular cat, for illustration, has Cerebellar Hypoplasia (CH), often identified as wobbly cat syndrome, which is a neurological situation that brings about a cat to —you guessed it — wobble when it walks. This condition is neither contagious nor distressing for the animal.

Some of the cats they rescued from the prison are up for adoption, Holt reported. She extra the felines not geared up for indoor living could go into APA!’s doing work cat method, in which they will be deployed to other locations that need rodent populations managed. APA! personnel named the cats immediately after regional print journalist, Andrea Ball, who is also a shelter volunteer. 

Holt mentioned APA! is absolutely sure to spay and neuter all functioning cats, so shoppers who adopt these animals do not have an issue as the prison did. 

“I think it’s terrific that prisons are using performing cat applications,” Holt claimed. “I imagine it is just vital to observe that spaying and neutering the cats is actually critical to generating those people systems work best.”

If intrigued in adopting or fostering these kittens or cats, stop by the Austin Animals Alive! internet site.