The Johnson County Humane Society is addressing the county’s wild cat overpopulation by implementing the trap-neuter-return (TNR) method, aiming to control the surging number of kittens born each spring.
The nonprofit launched its Project Litter Quitter initiative with an ambitious goal: to have a mobile spay and neuter clinic up and running by 2027.
On Sunday, teams spread out across seven locations in Johnson County, successfully coaxing cats into traps for spaying, neutering, and subsequent return to their original locations.
One team worked in an Iowa City trailer park, with Tami Geyer, the president of the Johnson County Humane Society, leading the effort.
“I don’t like trapping cats. It’s not fun for me. But it’s necessary,” said Geyer.
Looking ahead, Geyer envisions expanding the initiative.
“Imagine having a mobile unit that travels to farms and sterilizes entire farms. If we could do that, I truly believe we could get ahead of the problem,” Geyer added.
Her vision goes beyond Johnson County, with hopes of expanding the project to neighboring counties.
“It wouldn’t take long to finish one county and move on to the next,” Geyer said.
Geyer was accompanied by Sue Schroder, a seasoned trapper with 12 years of experience.
“You can’t adopt your way out of it,” Schroder emphasized.
Schroder believes anyone can learn to trap and encourages community involvement.
“Anyone can check out traps from the Iowa Humane Alliance and do it themselves if they see it happening. It’s easier than you think. The cats tend to trust the people in their area more than they’ll trust me,” Schroder explained.
While the Johnson County Humane Society receives some assistance covering the cost of surgeries, which are approximately $50 each, they rely on public donations to fund vaccinations for the cats.
“We’re trapping at farms, neighborhoods, trailer courts, and various other locations,” Geyer said.
Related Topics
