The purpose of the Cal Poly Cat Program (CPCP) is to maintain a controlled and healthy campus cat population, to adopt out unwanted kittens and cats found on campus, and to educate students about the impotance of responsibility, sterilization, and proper care.
The CPCP is a volunteer/ non-profit organization that is operated and financially supported by the campus community.
The Cal Poly Cat Program started as a 1992 senior project by Garret Quindimil to solve the problem of a rising cat population at Cal Poly. At that time, nearly 400 cats and kittens roamed campus. The majority had been abandoned by students and other residents.
Feral cats were trapped, then euthanized by the local Department of Animal Regulations. Although this decreased the cat population, it did not solve the problem.
The Cal Poly Cat Program modeled their solution on the "Test, Trap, Vaccinate, Medicate, Alter, and Release" (TTVMAR) technique, developed by the National Feral Cat Resource Center.
A second senior project resulted in an adoption program where students domesticated feral cats and found good homes for them. Over the past 15 years, other senior projects and campus volunteer staff upgraded the campus cat shelter
Today we estimate the feral cat population on campus at 60. Most of these cats have gone through our program, so they are sterile and healthy. Our adoption program has placed 450 cats and kittens into caring homes.
WANTED: LOVING HUMAN, AND A LIFE-LONG COMMITMENT
UNCODITIONAL LOVE FOR A LIFETIME - PRICELESS!!
BUYING OR ADOPTING A PET IS A LIFE-LONG COMMITMENT.
We reserve the right to refuse any applicant or adoption we consider unsatisfactory.
PLEASE REPORT ABANDONED ANIMALS TO OUR SHELTER BY CALL (805) 756-5220.
THE 3Rs: RESCUE, RECOVERY, & RELEASE
RESCUING THE CATS
The best time to rescue a cat is early morning or late evening. We use safe traps manufactured by Animal Care Equipment and Supplies (ACES). ACES traps have powder-coated wire, providing a "fur friendly" environment with doors that close gently. A cat need only walk into an open trap and step onto the metal plate in front of the food, which triggers the door to close behind it. After the cat has been rescued, we cover the traps and our volunteers transport them to the local vet where they are treated.
RECOVERY: PROMOTING HEALTHY CATS
Local veterinarians volunteer services and give discounts at their clinic. Most of our funds go towards paying local veterinarians for shots, medicine, and surgery.
RELEASING THE CATS
1. Feeding Stations
After the animal is spayed/neutered and vaccinated, they are either put into the shelter or released back onto campus. There are currently twelve feeding stations located throughout Cal Poly. The stations provide cats with dry food to maintain healthy diets and keep cats from preying on birds and other species.
2. Keeping Track of the Cats
Program volunteers individually monitor each station at least twice a day. They record if the cats have any problems and document new cats.
