Fetching Feral Cats in Chatsworth

During this warm season not only is the temperature up, but the number of feral or stray cats in the community.

“We call it kitten and cat season,” said Officer Gonzales, a 13-year West Valley Animal Care Center officer.

Animals are more active in the spring and summer months and therefore more wildlife like feral cats breed and multiply around this time, according to Gonzales.

“Every city block has cats like this,” says Gonzales.

With the growing number of stray cats and kittens around the area, more residents are looking for ways to control the cats. People can always try to find the owner of the cat by checking for an identification collar or putting up found posters around the neighborhood to alert searching owners of the cat’s location. Yet if the animal is truly a stray, one option is to contact the Department of Animal Services.    

 “We will hold them for 4 to 5 days to see if they calm down or see if the owner comes to claim them,” said Brenda Barnette, general manager for the department.

While many people take feral cats to local shelters such as the West Valley Animal Shelter, they are given a temporary home. If no one retrieves or adopts the animals, they are eventually put to sleep due to a lack of space to house the animals.

Barnette says much of this could be avoided if owners checked local shelters more often for their missing cat or equipped their pets with a tracking device.

“I would really encourage the community to get the microchip especially if they let their cat play outside. That way they have permanent identification,” said Barnette. When animals are taken to local shelters, Barnette says they are scanned to hopefully be able to identify the owner and return the pet to its home. The microchips can be purchased for cats at animal shelters and most veterinary offices.

For residents who aren’t missing a cat but would like to rescue a feral cat, the West Valley shelter rents animal traps that can be used to capture and transport the animal to the shelter. There are also local organizations such as the Stray Cat Alliance and the Feral Cat Caretakers Coalition who have tips on how to help these animals and residents deal with strays, including ways to temporarily provide shelter and food while searching for the owner or a more permanent home.

To contact the West Valley Animal Care Center located at 20655 Plummer St. in Chatworth, call 818-756-9325.