Shelters and rescues promote a solution to Nebraska towns crowded with feral cats

BLUE SPRINGS, Neb. (KLKN) — One group of determined cat lovers has found a humane solution to a cat problem in rural communities across Nebraska.

“The problem is a population issue,” said Karen Curpis of Brave Animal Rescue in Lincoln.

She described the complaints she has received about stray cats, including “obnoxious male behavior.”

“People will be complaining that they’re coming up on my porch, or spraying on my furniture or digging in my garden,” she said.

SEE ALSO: Finding felines: Beatrice program has neutered thousands of stray cats

Brave Animal Rescue has partnered with the Beatrice Humane Society, as well as The Purrpose animal rescue and the no-kill shelter The Cathouse. Their mission is to educate communities with too many feral felines.

The posse held a training class on Wednesday night at the Blue Springs Community Center to teach the public about TNR.

“A lot of people don’t know about TNR: trap, neuter and release,” Curpis said. “It’s just so underknown.”

TNR is a method used by this group to reduce the number of aggressive homeless cats you see around town and stop the spread of disease.

First, the cats are humanely trapped in cages, then medicated so they can be neutered and treated for any diseases they’re carrying, and finally released back into their neighborhoods.

This program is not only for homeless cats.

Many cat owners need help with neutering their pets, saying the price can make it hard to get what needs to be done, done.

“In order to let her go outside and roam around, I have to get her spayed, so finding out about this was a lifesaver,” said Kelli Middaugh, a cat owner from Wymore.

Thanks to the joint efforts of this group, there will be more training events in June where attendees can sign up to have cats in their neighborhood TNR’d.

Or you can bring your cat to their spay and neuter event on June 21 for free.

“This doesn’t just stop here,” said Amy Bolton, executive director of The Purrpose. “We want to help. It’s just the beginning.”