Boyle McCauley News

Since 1979 • April-May 2024 • Circulation 5000

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Feral Cats and the Homeless

When I first moved into my house the previous occupant’s cat came to the front door. Not knowing who he belonged to I put food out for the black and white feline thinking he might be from a neighbour’s house.

The food attracted a feral female. She was so small, I thought she was a kitten but my neighbour had seen her around for more than two years. She had kittens in my garage. When they were ready to leave the nest she put outside the door pieces of burnt toast and half-eaten subs that she had scrounged from the dumpsters to lure them out into the world.

Later that years on a cold (-30c) November night she meowed outside my back door and when I opened it, she and her three eight month old kittens made their way into my basement. In the spring, much to my embarrassment, I found myself with three pregnant females and I got help from Virginia from Little Cats Lost (they deal with feral cats) to trap and neuter them.

Today, those four and several other stray and feral cats make a home in my yard and I take care of them. I do this not because I like cats (I’m actually a bird person) but because I have a responsibility to look after those who are worse off than myself.

When I moved to this neighbourhood I knew there would be lots of people who would need help even if that just meant treating them with respect and trying to look at things from their point of view. I knew I was moving to their neighbourhood and they were sharing their space with me. Some of these people gather in both public areas and around businesses.

I’m told that there are newcomers who are nervous around the homeless. I guess it’s normal to be wary of what we don’t want to relate to. But until we eradicate homelessness by finding homes for all residents of Boyle Street, homeless people are “at home” on the street and it’s disrespectful to ask them to move simply because we are uncomfortable with them.

Having talked to many of these people I find that they are remarkably similar to the rest of us and I often think that “but for the grace of God go I.” My fondest wish is that there should be no more homelessness for both people and cats. It is easiest to start with the cats by having all of our house pets neutered. The Edmonton Humane Society has a PALS program which offers neutering for $50 to qualified pet owners.

What we can do to help the homeless people is so much more complicated. I, as an individual, feel so powerless to do much, but I know that I can start by at least being friendly and respectful to the homeless people who cross my path.

Manon is a resident of Boyle Street, a former member of the BSCL Board, and an active volunteer in the community.

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