Frequently Asked Questions

What is CCC?

The Campus Cat Coalition at UTA (CCC) is a volunteer group of students, staff, and faculty from the UTA campus. CCC's main goal is to work closely with the university in order to provide care and long-term management of feral cats on campus. In addition, CCC tries to decrease one potential source of feral cats - local strays - by providing educational information on the costs and commitment of responsible pet ownership. To join CCC, the only requirement is an interest in helping!
 

What, exactly, is a "feral" cat?

A feral cat can be defined as any cat too wild or unsocialized to be kept in a typical pet home. These cats are often born in the wild!
 

Have you seen feral cats on campus?

At UTA, colonies of feral or un-owned cats live on campus property. While the exact numbers are not known, the population is estimated to be in the hundreds. Physical Plant reports feral/un-owned cat colonies in the vicinities of the Maverick Stadium, the campus power plant, Physical Plant parking lot, University Center, Campus Dormitories and in and around trash dumpsters which people frequently leave open.

Many of the feral cats at UTA were originally "owned" pets of students and neighbors of the university. These well intentioned owners were probably not prepared for the many responsibilities of pet ownership, including the cost of food and supplies, veterinary care, and the time commitment. Other cats are the result of generations of breeding among the campus' existing feral cat population.

Typically, cats in Arlington's warm climate can be expected to have two to three litters of four to eight kittens per year. Because many of these cats are not socialized or tame, they cannot be caught and placed in homes. They are just too wild for close contact with humans.
 

The CCC program has the following 3 key parts:

1.   Humane capture of feral cats on campus, identification, testing for infectious diseases, vaccination, spay/neuter, and re-release to their capture location for care and maintenance by designated CCC caretakers.
2.   Establishment and maintenance of feeding locations where CCC volunteers provide regular meals and observe the feral cats daily.
3.   Community information on the local pet overpopulation problem and education on the costs and commitment of responsible pet ownership.
This joint effort is modeled after Stanford University's highly successful and humane program to control and manage feral cat populations on their campus. A similar program is in place at the University of Texas at Austin.

For your information:

  • Traps for this program will be identified by CCC placards.
     
  • Cats in this program will receive the best and most humane care available. They will be identified by painless ear notches.
     
  • Remember these cats are wild - if you try to touch them they will bite!
     
  • CCC feeding stations are being established around campus. Please do not feed cats outside these areas. If you are currently feeding cats, we would like you to join us - we will provide free food and set up feeding stations/shelters for the feral cats.
     
  • Personal pets are not allowed on campus or in dormitories per University policy.
     

How you can help:

  • If you are feeding cats on campus, let us know. We are interested in the number and condition of cats at your location, and we can provide you with cat food.
     
  • If you are interested in becoming a campus cat feeder/caretaker, contact us.
     
  • Please notify us if there are cats living in your area of campus. We would like to enroll them in our program.
     
  • If you are a UTA student, staff, or faculty member, you can become a CCC volunteer. Counsel your friends and family on the responsibilities of pet ownership. Many people underestimate the costs and time commitment an animal requires.
     
  • Donations of money are always appreciated. A check can be sent to Box 191040 to Campus Cat Coalition. It will help us pay for veterinary care and purchase supplies to build shelters.
     

How to contact UTA's Campus Cat Coalition:

Phone:  817-272-2311
E-mail:   campuscats@uta.edu
Mail: Box 191040 Arlington, TX 76019

This document adopted from Aggie Feral Friends.