To: Susan Koch, Chancellor and Charles Coderko, Associate Chancellor

Chancellor Koch: Don't Starve Cats!

Protect the TNVR and feeding programs performed by the Animal Protective League and individuals caring for free roaming cats.

Why is this important?

In April 2018, a group of cat advocates sterilized, vaccinated, and microchipped 19 of the University of Illinois Springfield's 20-30 feral cats. Since then, the university has prohibited any further feeding or TNVR, opting instead to trap and turn the cats over to Sangamon County Animal Control to be put to death.

Sterilization is an effective means of regulating animal populations without killing. Eight of the adult cats were females in heat, and we estimate that spaying them prevented approximately 60 kittens from being born. An additional two adult females with a total of six young kittens were trapped. The kittens were placed in an adoption program, and the females were sterilized and returned.

We estimate there are another ten to fifteen cats who need our help, but the university prefers to arrest anyone mediating on the cats' behalf, even if it is not against the law to do so. Free living cats pose no threat to anyone, but depend on humans for food.