Area men help homeless cats in their own way
Gomer Lewis is helping curb the feral cat population in Dover by trapping them, having them neutered or spayed, and releasing them. Charlie is a feral Lewis believes is tame enough for adoption.
Two area residents are doing what they can to help feral cats in the area. One feeds, traps and neuters. The other provides food, water and a warm place to stay when the mercury dips into bitter territory.
Dover native Gomer Lewis had a busy December trapping stray cats and transporting them to AlterClinic in Akron for spaying or neutering.
“They offered a free month-long program, so I borrowed a couple of traps from my friends, set them out and the cats just kept coming,” he said.
Lewis took 13 cats to AlterClinic in December alone and feeds 13-14 a day.
“Every cat I’ve ever had was a rescue,” said Lewis, who rattled off the names he gave them. “Charlie and Zaboo were the first strays I noticed that needed fixed at the start of the year.”
Junior, Sundara, Khione, Gato, Bones, Squeaks — now adopted and named Braxton — and Jack are among those Lewis has helped, along with one that passed away and a kitten he took to a shelter that had a nursing mother.
“One female can have three or four litters a year of anywhere from four to eight kittens, and then once the kittens hit six, eight months, they can start reproducing as well. It doesn’t take very long to get a colony that’s just out of control,” Lewis said.
Lewis offered his thoughts on how the city and others could help curb the population explosion.
“Allowing TNR was huge,” he said, referring to the Trap-Neuter-Return program approved by Dover Council three years ago. “But TNR doesn’t work over the winter, and it would be inhumane to trap cats then because they would be stuck out there until someone could get them.”
Lewis believes the city also could pass some basic ordinances to help. “Cover them like dogs and require a license. The money could provide a financial base to start more TNR,” he said.
Lewis, who lives on disability, said he is currently feeding about 12 or 13 homeless cats at a cost of about $50 per month. If a stray needs veterinary care, he provides that out of his own pocket.
“Charlie showed up here yesterday, and he must have been attacked because he was bleeding all over the place, so I took him to the vet, and that cost $300,” he said.
Lewis said he receives occasional donations from friends, and he sells homemade caramels to help defray the costs.
When asked why he does it, Lewis said, “Sentient beings. We all have feelings. They didn’t ask to be born or to be left out in the cold, and for the most part, they’re there because of us. I’m just trying to take care of them.”
Lewis would love to find a permanent home for Charlie. “He really needs a place. He’s a sweetheart, and he deserves it. Anyone that wants to adopt him, all they have to do is get ahold of me on Facebook.”
A cat hotel
John McClellan has built what amounts to a small cat hotel for the strays roaming his neighborhood in Wilkshire Hills. About a month ago, he noticed one stray coming around and sleeping near his shed at night.
“I wanted to give the cat somewhere a little warmer to stay when the snow came,” he said. “After a week I found three cats asleep in the small box.”
McClellan took it upon himself to build an enclosed shelter with four separate rooms cats can enter and occupy. He even equipped each with a heating pad and space for a cat to choose whether to lie on the pad or not.
He also outfitted the rooms with cameras. “One reason was to see if any cats actually used them,” he said. “Also, if I needed to clean out a box, I wanted to be sure there wasn’t a cat in there at the time.”
McClellan said the cats come and go as they please, and he keeps heated water in the boxes for them at all times. He places food out in the morning and evening if a cat is present.
“I have always loved animals,” McClellan said. “But having two cats of my own, I am partial toward other cats.”
Anyone interested in helping curb the feral cat population should not attempt to trap without the proper knowledge or equipment. Tuscarawas County TNR Project can be reached via Facebook Messenger.