Stray cat problems arise in downtown Oxford

Stray cat problems arise in downtown Oxford

Local Oxford residents complain that the feral cat population might be getting out of control.

You may not notice them on your Sunday stroll through the square, but feral (stray) cats are a problem in the Oxford-University community.  While this is a countywide problem, a large concentration of feral cats can be found in the neighborhoods immediately surrounding the downtown square.

“I’m sure the trash from all the restaurants and bars on the square make this problem worse”, said Gayle Henry, who moved to Oxford a year ago.

“I have a neighbor two houses up from me and he puts cat food out all over his driveway for the stray cats. I think he thinks this is harmless, but it has turned out to be a huge problem. I see at least ten stray cats a day, and I’m not exaggerating. It also attracts raccoons, and other animals”, said Cummings Lee, a resident of Fillmore Avenue two blocks away from the square.

Residents of Fillmore Avenue photographed a stray cat underneath their house

 amongst the plumbing and HVAC equipment. Photo by Walton Kay.

Lee and others look to the people and city of oxford to find a solution to the feral cat problem.

"Last spring, my girlfriend brought home a cat from a box of ‘free kittens’ left out on the square. We need more kind hearted people like her who truly care for these animals, then we may start to see the population of feral cats begin to dwindle as they find new homes,” says William Fowler, a student at the University of Mississippi.

The Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society (OLHS) has multiple Spay/Neuter programs geared towards offsetting the massive stray population. 

The first is the Spay/Neuter Assistance Program (SNAP) in which OLHS has partnered up with Animal Clinic of Oxford and Crossroads Animal Hospital to provide an affordable way to spay/neuter pets for low-income residents. In 2012, OLHS launched another program called the Prevent a Litter Program (PAL). PAL provides an avenue for anyone to donate towards the spaying and neutering of the animals in our community.

Students at Ole Miss have responded to the issue as well. Feral University Rebel Rescuers (FURR) is a fully recognized student organization at Ole Miss. They employ the trap, neuter and return technique, which includes trapping a cat, paying for surgery and recovery, and returning the cat to the location it was found.

The Oxford-Lafayette Humane Society encourages the community to join together in an effort to spay/neuter all stray animals. Feral cats keep the rodent population at a minimum but may carry diseases of their own due to lack of proper care. The Oxford Animal Control phone number is: (662)-832-7633.