Cats in need of 'forever homes'

Posted Jan 26, 2012 By Michelle Nash

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Star, the male orange tabby pictured here with Art Legros, is a very friendly and affectionate stray cat Legros and his wife Caroline feed. As the feral cat population continues to grow in Vanier, one resident is pushing for Star and all the lonely cats to find loving homes.

Michelle Nash, Metroland

Star, the male orange tabby pictured here with Art Legros, is a very friendly and affectionate stray cat Legros and his wife Caroline feed. As the feral cat population continues to grow in Vanier, one resident is pushing for Star and all the lonely cats to find loving homes.

EMC news - Taking into her own hands what some animal welfare advocates describe as a growing problem, one Vanier woman wants to create a list identifying cat clusters in the area to better understand the feral cat problem.

Lucie Marleau takes in one stray cat a year. She feeds the stray and eventually gains its trust, allowing her to take the cat inside her home. She then takes the animal to the vetrenarian for a medical exam and when the animal has been given a clear bill of health and is socializing well with her other cats, Marleau works with the Cat Rescue Network to find an adoptive home.

Marleau said she knows not everyone can afford to take the same steps to help stray cats, but she would like to see more residents in Vanier lending a hand.

"If everyone took the time to feed a stray cat, then maybe you wouldn't need to feed it as often," Marleau said.

Marleau made the personal commitment to save feral cats in her neighbourhood a long time ago.

"I think there is a myth out there that the cats can survive on their own, which is not true," Marleau said.

Louise Hindle, founder of the not-for-profit Cat Rescue Network, said without help from residents, there would be many more stray cats roaming around the streets of Ottawa.

"People like Lucie mean we can save more cats," Hindle said. "We can't solve the problem, but we share our resources and make adoptions possible."

When it comes to giving up the strays she helps for adoption, Marleau said it's an emotional ride, but one she is strong enough to handle.

"I cry, but I will be fine. Once you know you can survive the heartbreak, you can survive because ultimately they are in their forever home."

In December, the volunteer-run cat rescue group Hungry and Homeless Cat Rescue noted identified more than 40 homeless cats, most of them kittens, scattered in and around the downtown area of Ottawa.

Valerie Froud, founder of the organization, said the current state of the economy has forced many people to abandon their cats because they cannot afford to feed them, adding she hasn't seen as many stray cats in a very long time.

Hindle said it would be great to have support to gather data on stray cats roaming the city, but a task that would be incredibly difficult to accomplish.

Marleau said the task in Vanier will be difficult, but one that needs to be taken on.

"What I am hoping to do is identify the cat clusters and colonies and see what amount of strays we are really talking about."

With files from Eddie Rwema

michelle.nash@metroland.com