This month I interviewed Ca-R-Ma Cat Rescue, this is what they had to say:

Can you tell us about the mission of your organization?

Cat Rescue Maritimes, known as CA-R-MA, is an all-volunteer registered charity with chapters in New Brunswick and Nova Scotia. Our mission is to bring community cat populations into balance through trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs, to improve the lives of unowned, free-roaming cats, to support long-term cat population solutions in communities; and to advocate compassionate care of free-roaming and feral cats.

What got you/your organization started on your mission?

Trap-neuter-return programs are widespread in Europe, but a fairly recent innovation in
North America. TNR has proven to be the most effective and humane approach to cat
population control. The animals live out their natural lives, sheltered and fed, but are unable to reproduce. Over time, feral colonies disappear.

Cat Rescue Maritimes began in the Sackville area in 2005 in response to concerns about the welfare of a growing population of unowned, free-roaming cats in the community. There are now 10 community-based chapters working in New Brunsiwick and Nova Scotia and another five Maritime communities actively interested in joining the CA-R-MA program.

What is it about Fredericton and the surrounding area that makes your mission so important?

Since the Fredericton chapter began its trap-neuter-return program in 2007, we have
sponsored spay/neuter surgeries, vaccines (including rabies) and medical care to more than 3,300 feral and abandoned/free-roaming cats, living on over 200 different sites in the Greater Fredericton area. In 2012 alone, we did 698 cats. Following surgery, most of the CA-R-MA cats are returned to their sites where a caregiver ensures food and shelter for the animals and monitors the colony.

Cat colonies often begin with an abandoned, unaltered pet left at the end of a driveway or
near a barn in outlying, rural areas. Fredericton is a typical Maritime community, surrounded by largely rural territory. Cats congregate wherever they can a find food (often provided by a kind-hearted individual or neighborhood) and some kind of shelter (a shed or barn, an abandoned house or car) . Kittens born in these circumstances will be feral animals and will within their first year of life begin producing their own litters. The population grows exponentially and the kind souls trying to help these cats become overwhelmed.

Do you have any big events coming up?

We depend entirely on donations and fundraisers, and work constantly to raise a minimum of $75,000 each year. Two major events are planned for the spring. On April 12, we are sponsoring a dance featuring DJ music from the 70s-90s. On May 11, we join four other humane groups in a Burlesque Show at Centre Communitaire Ste-Anne. For information, email suemadigan@gmail.com.

What do you hope to see for your organization in the coming year?

Trap-neuter-return is generally impossible during the winter months, as cats need special
care and warmth following surgery. We begin the 2013 TNR season with a plan to finish off colonies where we are already working and to deal with sites we did not get to in 2012. We aim to do 350 cats through individual appointments at veterinary hospitals and hope to hold some large-scale clinics for 75 or more animals later on.

The cat population problem is severe and takes time and money to address. But year by year, CA-R-MA reducing the population and the suffering.

Below are some of the cats you can adopt from CA-R-MA!