AHOSKIE – It’s more than leaving out a saucer of milk, a ball of yarn, litter-boxes, and a scratching post.

It’s about the education of how to control the population of our feline friends – whether you’re a cat-person, or not.

Four years ago when Cathy James moved to Ahoskie from her native New York she had a chance to continue a dream born in the city: animal welfare and protection; provide for homeless cats that have somehow found their way into the wild.

Working first with the Hertford County chapter of PAWS (Protecting Animals Worth Saving), and later founding her own organization, ComCAT (Community Cat Advocacy Team), James has worked tirelessly to make people in the area aware of ways to control the homeless cat population.

“I told my friends that it’s work, a lot of work, and more work than I wanted at the time,” she explains in her home as a fickle feline rubs against her leg. “But I also told them that these cats need somebody too; so I decided to give it a shot.”

A lot of that effort has been the ComCAT “TNR” program: Trap, Neuter, and Release.  This means the cats that ComCAT traps, get to veterinary establishments to be spayed and neutered, and later return to the wild.  However, the cats that have been through the program are now marked, so if they’re seen roaming the neighborhood, or the woods, they can easily be identified by a mark on their ear.

“It’s costly because I’m on disability and I really can’t afford it,” says James. “But I take my grocery money each month and take cats to get them spayed and neutered.  I do what I can do.”

James wants people to know there are feral cats and there are stray cats.

Feral cats are homeless, wild, and unable to be tamed.  They usually roam at night and are vulnerable to spreading disease.

Stray cats are cats that have been ‘homed’ at some point in their lives.  They’re usually much calmer, and often are approachable.

James weekly feeds and waters a colony of some 40 cats at two Ahoskie locations dubbed ‘feeding stations’: the corner of Maple and Main Streets and another on South Street.

“I’ll go into a colony and look for kittens,” James maintains. “You want to get (kittens) because they’re easier to socialize because if you leave them they will return to the wild or encounter all sorts of dangers and you might never see them again.”

Some of the cats James takes through the ComCAT TNR program, along with small kittens, she puts up for adoption.  She has adoptions at two area businesses: Tractor Supply on Memorial Drive in Ahoskie from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. every second, third, and fourth Saturday; and at ACE Hardware in Murfreesboro, but one should call ahead to ACE (252-396-8038) for the adoption dates and times.  The number of cats at any given adoption also varies.

“It depends on how much money I have to get them spayed and neutered,” she says with a laugh.

Currently she is using her Ahoskie residence as a ‘foster home’ for about 26 cats she hopes will be adopted this summer. She averages about four adoptions a weekend because there is a screening process for prospective ‘pet parents’ and a donation is requested.

“It’s not about the donation, it’s about a good home,” James contends. “In some cases I’ve even given away cats because it’s also about educating the community.

“I cry at every adoption because you get attached to them,” she says. “But it’s also joy because I know they’re getting a good home.”

James has signs around Ahoskie advertising the adoptions.  There is also word-of-mouth and there is now even a ComCAT Facebook page.

“People that have adopted from us are like a little family now,” she enthuses with a smile. “We post them on our Facebook page and welcome them.  We’re there for support for one another; any education, any knowledge, anything that gets the word out about something.”

James has ‘let the cat out of the bag’ that ComCAT has made a 501(c) (3) application and approval is pending.  James hopes that will help with tax-deductible contributions.

“I’m hoping for larger donations because of the tax exemption,” James concedes, “but I appreciate every dime, whether it’s five, six, seven dollars. When we adopt the cats out, the donations don’t cover the cost of the spay and neuter, but it’s all appreciated.”

James says she has ‘cat-family members’ who assist ComCAT: two in Ahoskie and two in Northampton County.

“I don’t want anybody to do any more than they can,” James insists. “I put no pressure on; whatever has to be done, I’ll find a way to get it done.”

And that, as they say, is ‘the cat’s meow’.