“Nothing Works Better Than Mother Nature.”
-Chief Kirk Albanese
The Working Cats Program is a GREEN program that relocates sterilized and vaccinated feral cats who would otherwise have been euthanized at the shelter to places that have problems with rats. The rats are repelled by the cats’ odor and leave. Compared to the methods that are most commonly used to control rats, this method proves to be effective, humane and environmentally friendly. It is a win-win-win situation!
Since its inception, Working Cats have been successfully placed in the Orchid Mart, Crossroads School campus, and the Los Angeles Police Department Wilshire and Foothill divisions. Both the Los Angeles Times and the Daily News reported on our Working Cats program. Read what the press has had to say.
The Working Cats program is the only hope for feral cats to be adopted and placed in safe, secure locations for the rest of their lives! The cost of saving one feral cat and placing that cat in a location for the rest of his/her life is only $300. All cats are re-colonized at the location for one month.
During this time period the cats become accustomed to the sights, sounds and smells of their new environment. When the cats are released from their cages after this time period, they stay in their new home, and the new guardians make a commitment to care for the cats for the rest of their lives.
“Your assistance with the introduction and acclimation of our feral cats has been invaluable to our organization. As part of a large City based entity, it would be difficult for our personnel to apply the knowledge, and time -consuming efforts, necessary to achieve the desired results. We have greatly benefited from your organization’s assistance and involvement in establishing our feral cat program. We couldn’t have done it without your help.”
—Chief Kirk Albanese, Commanding Officer Foothill Area, LAPD
Working Cats History
Our program began at the Flower Mart in downtown Los Angeles, where they have had a problem with rats since 1909. Through a carefully managed re-colonization plan, we brought in feral cats who have been wonderfully successful at keeping the rats away (rats will avoid areas with cats). Scott Yamabe, CEO of South California Growers Association, was skeptical at first, but was soon very enthusiastic about the program.
In April 2008, the Working Cats Program saw the installation of 9 cats at the Self Realization Fellowship Lake Shrine in the Pacific Palisades.