The Working Cats Program relocates sterilized and vaccinated feral cats who would otherwise have been euthanized at the shelter to places that have problems with rats. The rats are repelled by the cats' odor and leave. Compared to the methods that are most commonly used to control rats, this method proves to be effective, humane and environmentally friendly. It is a win-win-win situation!

Since it's inception, Working Cats have been successfully placed in the Orchid Mart, Crossroads School campus, and the Los Angeles Police Department Wilshire and Foothill divisions. Both the Los Angeles Times and the Daily News reported on our Working Cats program (read related articles).

Our program began at the Flower Mart in downtown Los Angeles, where they had a problem with rats since 1909. Through a carefully managed recolonization plan, we brought in feral cats who have been wonderfully successful at keeping the rats away (rats will avoid areas with cats). Scott Yamabe, CEO of South California Growers Association, was skeptical at first, but was soon enthusiastic about the program.

Jamba

VFTA's Working Cat, "Jamba"

Juice

"Juice"

"In recent years, the Flower Market noticed that the rodent population began to increase. Although traps and other exterminating measures were employed, we were unable to find a permanent solution to prevent the rodents from habituating in our market. When you offered to provide us with feral cats, we were unsure at first, however, I am glad to inform you that our rodent population has substantially diminished and sightings are almost non-existent."

Scott Yamabe, Exec. VP of the Southern California Flower Growers, Inc.

Working Cats

Help Save Feral Cats!

The Working Cats program is the only hope for feral cats to be adopted and placed in safe, secure locations for the rest of their lives! The cost of saving one feral cat and placing that cat in a location for the rest of his/her life is only $300. All cats are recolonized at the location for one month. After that, the new guardians take care of the cats for the rest of their lives.

OUR GOAL IS TO IMMEDIATELY SAVE 40 FERAL CATS! WE HAVE WONDERFUL HOMES FOR ALL OF THEM – ALL WE NEED IS YOUR HELP!

MAKE A CONTRIBUTION TODAY!!

WE CAN’T DO IT WITHOUT YOUR HELP. WITH YOUR HELP, SO MANY LIVES CAN BE SAVED.

Make a donation through PayPal

Q: What is a "feral cat?"

A: A feral cat avoids human contact either because s/he has lived his/her whole life with little or no human contact or is a stray cat who was lost or abandoned and has lived away from human contact long enough to revert to a wild state. Adult feral cats are unadoptable; therefore, when they are trapped and brought to the shelter, they are euthanized.

Q: How does recolonization work?

A: The tendency of feral cats is to return at all costs to their previous location. To recolonize them properly, the cats are kept in large holding cages at the new location for the first 3-4 weeks. During this time period the cats become accustomed to the sights, sounds and smells of their new environment. When the cats are released from their cages after this time period, they stay in their new home, and the new guardians make a commitment to care for the cats for the rest of their lives.

"Your assistance with the introduction and acclimation of our feral cats has been invaluable to our organization. As part of a large City based entity, it would be difficult for our personnel to apply the knowledge, and time -consuming efforts, necessary to achieve the desired results. We have greatly benefited from your organization's assistance and involvement in establishing our feral cat program. We couldn't have done it without your help."

Captain Kirk Albanese, Commanding Officer Foothill Area, LAPD

A BIG THANK YOU to Petco Foundation for providing recolonization cages for the Working Cats Program.

LAPD Central

Our Working Cats have just been placed in the latest location, Los Angeles Police Department's Central Division. With the help of Officer Dawn Haggerty, the new guardian, Voice For The Animals have successfully installed a new patrol of Working Cats. Our next installation will be at the Self Realization Fellowship Center in the Pacific Palisades.

Central Division

LAPD's Central Division

blossom

Central's Working Cat, Blossom

Self Realization Fellowship

In April 2008, the Working Cats Program saw the installation of 9 cats at the Self Realization Fellowship in the Pacific Palisades.

Jane_SRF

Jane Simon, Working Cats Coordinator, placing cats in their recolonization cages

SRF Cat

One of 9 cats at SRF

For more information, please contact our Working Cats Director, Jane Simon, at (310) 392-5153. ext #8