Local cathouse causes consternation

Uh, sorry, ladies. This story refers to cats, not cougars.

And when you think of the term “cathouse,” think literally.

According to Bonners Ferry Police Chief Steve Benkula, the cat house in question was an abandoned home with out-of-state owners. When the owners were able, they made the trip to town from their home in California, planning to clean it up, but what they fund defied easy cleaning.

“They found that a big colony of feral cats had moved in,” Benkula said. “It was none too pleasant.”

Second Chance Animal Adoption and Caring People for Animals were called in to assist and over 50 cats were gathered, most of them by setting traps, and there are a few still awaiting capture.

“These are excellent barn cats and great mousers,” said Nichole Hanson, Caring People for Animals, who is working to find homes, be they foster homes or permanent ones. “They’re fairly wild, so I don’t think they’d make good house cats without a lot of work, but I don’t think you’ll find better barn cats anywhere.”

Nichole is fostering several of the cats until good barns are found.

Each of the captured cats, she said, visits the Bonners Ferry Veterinary Clinic before moving on to be placed for adoption; sadly, some were too sickly and had to be put down. The rest have been given shots, treated for fleas and spayed or neutered, ensuring that they’ll never contribute to such a problem again.

“These guys are going up for adoption with a clean bill of health,” Nichole said.

Thanks to the efforts of Second Chance and Caring People, none of the captured cats, whether kitten or old and cat-ankerous feline, has gone untreated or uncared for, but the sudden onslaught has stretched both organizations thin.

“Foster homes are needed, and we’d love donations of cat food and litter,” Nichole said. “Monetary donations are always welcome, but what we need most right now are barns that these cats can call forever homes.”

Those who’d like to donate, give a wayward cat either a foster home or a forever home, or learn more on how to help can call Nichole at (208) 610-1032.

And Chief Benkula encourages all local cat owners to spay or neuter their pets.

“Problems like this can be avoided by practicing responsible pet ownership,” he said.

With Caring People for Animals in town, there’s no excuse not to do the right thing, as they have vouchers available for the asking that cover most of the cost of fixing both dogs and cats. Just visit their thrift store, 6410 Main Street, Bonners Ferry.

And once you’ve conducted that piece of business, be sure to look around … they offer great deals on a lot of “must have” items, and each sale goes to support all they do for our community and its pets.

Second Chance Animal Adoption, 6647 Lincoln Street, also has a thrift store that succors our furry friends, as well as housing for some great dogs and cats waiting for you to give them a forever home.