Cats that live on campus are pushed out by construction
BY ERIKA CAMARDELLA
THE STATE PRESS
Abandoned cats found roaming the east campus at night inspired the formation of two organizations to care for and rescue the animals.
The two groups have the same goal - happy, healthy cats - but they have some differing philosophies on rescue efforts.
One group, Campus Cat and Critter Rescue, led by Sharon Madson and Cristina Luna buys five to six large bags of food per week for the cats. The group also tries to get them adopted.
"We're not just feeding these cats, but have rescued approximately 120 to 130 cats and kittens," Madson said. "Over 90 cats were placed in homes."
Madson added that feeding the cats helps the group select ones that need immediate rescue.
"During feeding we look for kittens, friendly cats, those that are pregnant ... this is a way of prioritizing the selection for the rescue effort," she said.
With building renovations, construction and demolition, wild and abandoned domesticated cats are losing places to live in the area.
"There really is no place for these cats to go," Madson said.
Carmen Febus, the sole ASU East member of Mildcats, a rescue organization based at main campus, said that when cats are found on campus in Tempe, the Mildcats are the first people called.
Febus, a research lab assistant in the nutrition department, said she wants to form an east campus chapter of Mildcats.
"We really want to help the cats here ... but the [housing] lease says residents can't feed cats," she added.
When the Mildcats rescue a cat, it is lured into a cage with food and then if it is a domestic cat and adoptable it is taken to get a shot for leukemia along with its first set of shots and is either spayed or neutered.
Cats are put up for adoption on the group's Web site, www.mildcatsatasu.org.
If the Mildcats find a wild (or feral) cat, it is usually trapped, spayed or neutered and then released.
Madson said she disagrees with the trap-neuter-release method of rescue.
Ben Fasano, a sponsored project officer at ASU East, has adopted two cats from CCCR. He said he recommends it to others.
For more information on CCCR, e-mail cristina@-cristinaluna.com.
Reach the reporter at erika.camardella@asu.edu.
