Optimist
  • News
  • Sports
  • Opinion
    • Columns
    • Editorials
    • Letters to the Editor
  • Features
    • Book Review
  • Multimedia
    • Photo Galleries
    • Videos
  • Podcasts
    • Optimist Overtime
    • Top of the Key
  • Police Log
  • Print Edition
  • Projects
  • About
    • Advertise
    • Policies
    • Staff Contacts
    • Jobs
You are here: Home / News / Feral Cat Initiative sets up feeders

Feral Cat Initiative sets up feeders

September 10, 2013 by Gabi Powell

A minimized melody of meowing can be heard on campus compared to years past. Last semester, Campus Management took action against a cat-crowded campus by implementing a new program named the Feral Cat Initiative.

Corey Ruff, executive director of facilities and campus management and main advisor for the initiative, said around 40 cats have gone through since the program’s launch and the number of kittens is noticeably this semester.

He said the program is making progress, with three cats having gone through the program since the start of the semester.

The Trap-Neuter-Return program has the cats inspected by a local veterinarian, who determines if they are in a condition to be spayed/neutered. Each cat is then ear-tipped for identification and given a rabies shot. The entire process is completed within a matter of hours, ending with the cats’ return to campus.

This semester, the first feeding station has been set up on the west side of Central Plant.

ACU has implemented feral cat feeding stations around campus for our furry friends. (Optimist photo by Garon Goodspeed)

“We are fixing to put out two more feeding stations in areas of campus that have a higher cat population,” Ruff said. “These feeding stations will allow better control over the food source for the cats.”

Ashton Pruitt, a sophomore, criminal justice major from Denton, became involved in the feral cat initiative when assigned a class semester project aimed to fix an issue on campus.

She said students can play a part in helping keep the kitten crowds under control.

“Don’t feed them,” she said. “I know they are adorable and remind us of our

pets at home, but outside feeding will attract non-native cats that have not passed the veterinarian’s examinations and could pose a heath threat to the cats inhabiting the campus.”

With the many years of cat colonizing, Ruff said the program’s success will be gradual.

“It has taken several years for the ACU cat population to get to where it is today,” Ruff said. “So it will take a little time for the TNR program to start making a significant impact on the number of cats on campus.”

Ruff added they will be setting up a booth in the Campus Center for National Feral Cat Day on Oct.16 to help bring awareness about the TNR program.

Any students interested in helping can email feralcats@groupmail.acu.edu.

Filed Under: News, Showcase Tagged With: Campus Cats, Feral Cat Initiative

Other News:

  • Research festival shifts to virtual

  • Student arrested on child porn charge

  • ACU to join Western Athletic Conference in July

Avatar

About Gabi Powell

You are here: Home / News / Feral Cat Initiative sets up feeders

Other News:

  • Research festival shifts to virtual

  • Student arrested on child porn charge

  • ACU to join Western Athletic Conference in July

Follow us online

  • Facebook
  • Instagram
  • Twitter
  • YouTube

Optimist on Twitter

acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
6h

"We need to start taking steps toward understanding each other no matter how repulsed we may be initially." Read more from Managing Editor Dillon Daniel below:
https://acuoptimist.com/2021/01/to-achieve-unity-we-need-to-start-listening/

Reply on Twitter 1351990382385479682Retweet on Twitter 1351990382385479682Like on Twitter 13519903823854796822Twitter 1351990382385479682
acuoptimistThe Optimist@acuoptimist·
19 Jan

"Lack of interaction — whether online or in-person — leads to lack of connections between professors and students." Read more from Guest Columnist Morgen Maltby below:
https://acuoptimist.com/2021/01/quality-online-education-requires-lecturing-and-better-communication/

Reply on Twitter 1351590244966150146Retweet on Twitter 1351590244966150146Like on Twitter 13515902449661501462Twitter 1351590244966150146

Optimist on Facebook

The Optimist

6 hours ago

The Optimist
"We need to start taking steps toward understanding each other no matter how repulsed we may be initially." Read more from Managing Editor Dillon Daniel below: ...

To achieve unity, we need to start listening - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

There is no question that the current climate among Americans is tense and, as the Capitol Hill and 2020 riots show, even hostile. Although these behaviors have always been present, it seems that the last decade has seen an increase in tribal tendencies. We cling to the ankles of our political candi...
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

The Optimist

1 day ago

The Optimist
"Lack of interaction — whether online or in-person — leads to lack of connections between professors and students." Read more from Guest Columnist Morgen Maltby below: ...

Quality online education requires lecturing and better communication - Optimist

acuoptimist.com

With the university handling new forms of teaching in light of COVID-19, many classes have been moved to an online format due to safety for the professors and students. Because of this unexpected transition, fewer guidelines were placed on class procedures. Some professors chose to have weekly Zoom....
View on Facebook
· Share

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter Share on Linked In Share by Email

Videos

Praise Day Fridays return to campus

Video by Allie Jones. https://youtu.be/4F0D1oNzGjM   ... [Read More…]

  • Optimist Newscast – Nov. 5, 2020
  • ACUTV, Optimist preparing for live election show
  • Earliest snowfall recorded in Abilene

Latest Photos

  • Home
  • Weekly Ads
  • Classifieds

© 2021 ACU Optimist · All Rights Reserved