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In the program's early beginnings, it was estimated that nearly 400 cats and kittens roamed campus. It has been speculated that the majority of these cats came from being either left by students or dumped by people knowing of Cal Poly's vast land area. Of the first 100 cats trapped and brought into the clinic, 95% were solid white. Most of these cats had a prominent black dot or streak above their noses and had green eyes or gold eyes, and the few left were blue eyed and deaf. Those that were older adults often had severe skin cancer due to their white skin (similar to an albino's) showing up sometimes on the nose but particularly along the tips or edges of the ears. Some ears had been completely eaten away due to cancerous tissue and required amputation. |
| Kittens rarely showed signs of skin cancer, but 80% were treated for upper respiratory problems and other breathing disorders, diarrhea, and/or other infection. Adults, too would often show signs of upper respiratory infection and diarrhea, particularly once brought into the cattery due to the new stress of being confined and indoors. The high incidence of disease and other disorders suggested the probability of massive inbreeding. With further studying and questioning of people who have observed cats on campus for many years, it was estimated that these cats were the result of at least three generations of inbreeding from on-campus cats. In fact, many could be traced back to two very old white females which had an estimated number of at least five litters each. |  |
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As the program progressed and more cats were trapped, vaccinated, treated, altered and some released, more solid black cats began to show up. White cats were still the dominant color, but only by fifty percent. Fewer problems of skin cancer arose, but respiratory and other problems were still observed. In 1994, orange and especially brown tabby cats became more commonly trapped. Solid white cats now made up only 25% of those trapped, and fewer respiratory infections were found. By 1996, nearly all cats that were trapped had some color to them. Less than 5% trapped were white. Of the two female queens that had started so many litters on campus, one had died and the other was finally trapped, vaccinated, altered and released after having two cancerous ears amputated. |
| To date, there is an estimated number of fewer than 100 cats on campus. The majority of cats have been re-released, having gone through our program, with the remainder being mainly unaltered females and kittens. With our adoption program, we have placed about 350 cats and kittens into good, caring homes to people who have come to appreciate the importance of spaying and neutering their pets. |  |
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Although the goal of the program would appear to reduce the number of cats on campus to zero, this is not the case. Firstly, we are such a large public facility (supporting over 20,000 people a day) supplying food and shelter that it would be nearly impossible to keep all cats away. Secondly, it has been shown that with a minimum number of cats, healthy and altered, territoriality will prevail to keep other cats out and therefore keeping a healthy, small population. Finally, minimizing the population to zero allows for environmental vacuum to allow for new diseases and new problems to take over. For a further discussion of cats in the wild: Feral Cat Article . |
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