The absence of the campus cats Zell, Slushie and Coconut sparked concern about where they went. It would not be surprising if they were simply taken, said Ricci Gonzales the Feral Cat Initiative Secretary.
The Feral Cat Initiative is a student-run organization at ACU that monitors the well-being of cats on campus. Gonzales, a senior HR management major from Houston, said there are typically three reasons why a cat could be missing.
“Most likely, if a very social cat is missing, they were either bullied out of their original spot on campus or simply wandered due to curiosity,” said Gonzales. “The second reason is that it contracted some sort of illness.”
The FCI will capture cats for treatment if they need medical attention. After treatment, the cats are either returned to campus or rehomed.
After winter break, Slushie, a white long-haired Siberian cat, was temporarily missing. Gonzales said Slushie was picked up for an eye abscess Thursday afternoon, taken to the vet Friday morning, and returned to campus on Saturday.
Coconut is a long-haired faint orange tabby cat who resided at UP and was well-known among UP residents. Coconut was dumped on campus last summer, and he struggled to acclimate. He lost weight and fur, and he contracted ringworm.
ACU alumna and FCI Community Coordinator JulieAnn Sauceda took in Coconut, Gonzales said.
“Fortunately, Coconut is doing well and happy in his new home,” FCI Assistant Director Josh Hollwarth said. “The ringworm he brought to campus did not spread.”
Gonzales said the third reason for a missing cat is someone took them off campus, either a student or faculty member.
“I am not particularly surprised,” Gonzales said. “Occasionally we get questions or demands about taking cats.”
Gonzales and Hollwarth – a senior psychology major from Longview – said they make it a point to track the cats on campus.
“As far as I am aware of, Zell is the only one not accounted for,” Gonzales said.
Zell is a Siberian cat with a fluffy brown and white coat. He is a campus celebrity, known for accepting pets and using the Bean patio as his hunting ground to poach student lunches.
Ellie Arrazolo, a freshman with an undecided major from Houston, heard about Zell’s disappearance.
“My heart goes out to the cat lovers, especially for those who pet Zell every day,” Arrazolo said. “I know that he is being missed he had a big personality from what I’ve heard and a fluffy tail.”
Not all of the cats are MIA. Some familiar furry faces are still patrolling the campus. Peaches, a female calico cat who lives near the campus center, has been huddled up under bushes, taking refuge from the cold. Mr. Tom, a gray tabby, ate enough in the fall to survive this and probably the next winter.
Hollwarth said Zell could have migrated to another part of campus. Another possibility is someone took Zell, and “God help them because he’s going to hate being stuck inside a house,” Hollwarth said.
Gonzales said the FCI urges people to contact the FCI Instagram if there is anything they should be aware of. They do not condone taking cats that have acclimated to campus as pets.
“Leave it like you found it. Do not bring cats to campus, and do not take cats from campus,” Hollwarth said. “If Zell is in a house, then he’s probably doing fine, but the furniture there is definitely not.”
