Feral cats are a serious problem in Montana.

Cats living wild without human care are a big issue across the United States, including Montana. Estimates put the feral cat population somewhere between 60 and 100 million in the US! That's a lot of roving, homeless cats. These cats, often born from abandoned or stray cats, struggle to find food and shelter. They reproduce quickly, leading to overpopulation.

Another major issue with feral cats is their impact on native wildlife.

They hunt birds, small mammals, and reptiles, disrupting ecosystems. This can lead to declines in native species populations. Feral cats typically live in groups called colonies, often in or under abandoned outbuildings, old cars, or other places that offer shelter from the elements.

Credit Canva
Credit Canva
loading...

Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter offers free feral cat clinics.

Attempts to control feral cat populations include trap-neuter-return programs. In these programs, cats are caught, spayed or neutered, then released back into their territory. This helps reduce the number of kittens born and prevents future generations from contributing to the problem.

Credit Canva
Credit Canva
loading...

YVAS hosts free feral cat clinics routinely throughout the year.

The next event is Saturday, April 13. Residents can bring trapped feral cats to these clinics, where the cats are spayed/neutered, vaccinated, and their ears are tipped to indicate they've been sterilized. Billings Animal Control rents cat traps for $10 per week with a $55 refundable deposit. Shipton's also sells live-capture animal traps.

Mix 97.1 logo
Get our free mobile app

Tiffany Smith, Development Director at Yellowstone Valley Animal Shelter told us that the April 13 clinic is at capacity, but another feral cat clinic is scheduled soon. Contact the shelter if you'd like to learn more about upcoming dates.

Credit Shipton's Big R/Canva
Credit Shipton's Big R/Canva
loading...

Managing feral cats requires community involvement.

In Helena last year, city officials approved its Trap Neuter Release (TRN) program to help deal with multiple colonies of feral cats.  Educating pet owners about responsible ownership and the importance of spaying and neutering their cats is crucial. Additionally, supporting local animal shelters like YVAS and other local rescue organizations helps provide resources for feral cat population control.

Houseplants That Are Toxic to Cats

This list includes only some of the houseplants that are considered unsafe for cats; there are many more. However, these are some of the most common houseplants that pose a risk.

Gallery Credit: Canva

Why do cats have whiskers? Why do they meow? Why do they nap so much? And answers to 47 other kitty questions:

Why do they meow? Why do they nap so much? Why do they have whiskers? Cats, and their undeniably adorable babies known as kittens, are mysterious creatures. Their larger relatives, after all, are some of the most mystical and lethal animals on the planet. Many questions related to domestic felines, however, have perfectly logical answers. Here’s a look at some of the most common questions related to kittens and cats, and the answers cat lovers are looking for.

Gallery Credit: Andrew Lisa

More From Mix 97.1