FORT WORTH -- The cats crept up the driveway, hid behind shrubs and scavenged for food and water.
Returning from a two-week vacation in June, Sue Vesta found the cats, about 40 in total, scattered around the front lawn of her home and neighbor's home on the east bank of Lake Worth."Our area has had a problem with feral cats, but never before like this," said Vesta, a Realtor who has lived on the lake for four years. "The cat population just exploded."In desperation, Vesta contacted area animal shelters to find homes for more than two dozen kittens and 14 adult feral cats, but because the shelters are currently overcrowded, they could do little to help."Unfortunately, people have treated Lake Worth as a dumping ground for unwanted pets," Vesta said. "We knew if we did not do something, we would soon have 70 cats."So Vesta collected donated cages and provides food, water and medication to the cats. Several times a day, she cleans litter boxes. She plays with the kittens to socialize them. When the temperature soared above 100 degrees, Vesta brought the cats into her home to cool down.While researching the issue, Vesta found Rose Lynn Scott, who runs a trap, neuter and return program for cats on Fort Worth's near south side. Scott helped Vesta trap the cats and transport them to low-cost clinics for spaying and neutering."No animal asks to be homeless," Scott said. "This is strictly and directly a response of humans being irresponsible."So far, Vesta has spent about five hours a day and $2,000 of her own money to help the cats. They have found homes for all but five kittens and seven adults.Fort Worth's Chuck Silcox Animal Shelter has agreed to take the remaining kittens, which will be sent to PetSmart for adoption. Vesta hopes to find country dwellers with land willing to take the adult cats."We must get people to spay and neuter their pets and stop dumping their animals," Vesta said. "This has gotten out of control."Sarah Bahari, 817-390-7056Twitter: @sarahbfw
How to help
If you're interested in adopting one of the remaining cats, contact Sue Vesta at sjvesta@yahoo.com
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