Campus Cat-alysts: caring beyond the call of duty
- Wits University
Driven by compassion, a devoted team of selfless Wits staff continues with their noble efforts to control and nurture the ever-present feral cat population.
If you’ve ever found yourself walking in a secluded part of campus, you’ve likely bumped into a cat or two roaming the grounds. These are feral cats who live in various colonies scattered across Wits’ many campuses.
But how are these typically wild and unapproachable animals able to survive around so many people and so close to the urban Braamfontein sprawl? Surely someone must be taking care of them?
This is where some truly compassionate Wits members of staff step in.
Helen Donovan, a web designer and content editor, and Paul den Hoed, lecturer in the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, are two Wits staff members who go above and beyond to care for Wits’ feral cat populations.
Both are part of the Wits Campus Cat Group, a long-standing initiative that has been committed to the welfare of feral cat on campus for decades. The initiative started in the ‘80s with librarian Aja Verhagen, who, today, at 84, still comes onto the campus to feeds cats.
The group operates independently from the university, relying entirely on voluntary efforts. This means that a small band of Wits academic and admin staff choose to make time in their busy schedules purely out of the kindness of their hearts.
“Once you [start caring] you can’t turn back”, Den Hoed says, describing the sense of duty he has developed towards these cats. Viewing their work as a “social responsibility”, Den Hoed highlights the importance of fostering a mindset that prioritises the community’s well-being.
According to Donovan, they frequently come in on weekends after hours to feed these cats and clean their feeding stations. The group’s independent status also means they are reliant on donations and assistance from a small group of members and outsiders. Currently, twenty-five bags of cat food are purchased monthly out of their own pockets to feed the cats under their care. Wits does cover the cost of sterilising, which is done at a much-reduced rate.
To ensure the best possible care on campus with limited resources, the group follows the trap-neuter-return (TNR) approach. This entails capturing then sterilising and ear-clipping the feral cats, before returning them to the campus colony from where they came.
Donovan admits that the group “needs more people” for trapping as it is a time-consuming process and would also “love it” if more volunteers got involved with their cause. She also mentioned that being part of this initiative has allowed her to “get to know incredible people” and develop her relationships with like-minded co-workers.
Over the last four decades the group has treated about 1000 feral cats, a fact that demonstrates how small acts of care build up over time and create a greater community impact.
To learn more about this project or to lend a hand, contact Helen.Donovan@wits.ac.za
This article is one of five published that showcases how Wits staff contribute as individuals to various charitable causes. These incredible staff members live and appreciate Wits’ values beyond our campuses, and we are incredibly proud of their spirit of volunteerism and them practising #WitsForGood. The stories were featured in the 雷速体育_雷速体育直播 Monthly Newsletter.
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