The Knoxville Feral Cat Friends

The Alley Cat is as common a fixture in American cities as the parking meter or the city bus. Their's is a sad plight, as they exist because of human negligence and indifference. They live a hard life compared to wild cats in a rural setting. They have to scrounge for food wherever they can, are at constant risk of being run over in the street, and many die in a few years, usually from diseases like rabies and FIV (the feline equivalent of HIV).

There is also the public health risk to humans, especially with diseases like Cat Scratch Fever, Toxoplasmosis, and Campylobacter enteritis (the last two caused by contact with cat feces; a huge problem caused by an out-of-control feline population). As cute as they are, they also damage property, dig up gardens and flowerbeds, and kill songbirds, koi pond fish, and other desirable wild creatures.

Here in Knoxville, a few concerned cat lovers decided to be proactive in solving the problem. They formed the Knoxville Feral Cat Friends, a non-profit organization that works in association with local veterinarians and animal hospitals to help alleviate this serious problem.

A project of Peaceful Kingdom (a Tennessee non-profit 501c(3) organization), the KFCF was founded in 2000 to care for the burgeoning feral cat population in the greater Knoxville area. They build and maintain feeding colonies at sites where known packs of feral cats live.

These colonies have feeding stations inside small shelters where the feline critters can take refuge from adverse weather conditions. Volunteers maintain the feeding colonies by making sure there is always food available and keeping the shelters in good repair.

However, the main problem is the ever-growing population of stray cats in the metro area. Simply maintaining feeding colonies and shelters would only treating the symptom. That is why the KFCF employs the TNR system (Trap, Neuter, and Return).

First, they TRAP the wild kitties in standard box traps that do not harm them (but it sure pisses them off, though!). Then, they take them to veterinarians who selflessly donate time, materials, and medicine to have them spayed or neutered so they cannot make more unwanted kittens. Finally, they release them back to their "territories", so they can happily live out the rest of their lives as wild and free as they wish.

The KFCF meet the second Tuesday of every month at the Mr. Gatti's Pizza at 6913 Kingston Pike at 7:00 PM to discuss the allocation of funds and the establishment of new colonies. Although the members spend their own money to maintain the colonies and the TNR program, they rely heavily on donations from anybody willing to help control the feral cat population.

Many local veterinarians generously donate their time, knowledge, and supplies to neuter these wild critters before they're re-released, and many volunteers use their own money to help maintain the colonies. This is truly a labor of love, and their hard work has been very successful, having established several stable colonies in the Knoxville vicinity. Our feral cat population has been reduced dramatically since the organizations conception!

Oh, there is one thing I feel I need to mention; the KFCF does not accept kittens, say, from YOUR cat, or any other strays for the purpose of finding them homes. They are not an adoption agency, although they have been known to find homes for feral kittens born in the streets and alleys. My little Baby Blue (pictured) is a kitten I adopted through the KFCF (Although now she's a hoss that weighs 12 pounds!)

This clever approach to an age-old problem helps solve both a serious public-health risk to humans and prevents thousand of local strays from being rounded up and euthanized. The Knoxville Feral Cat Friends is proof that a few dedicated souls can really make a difference that matters!