One morning I wake up to the sound of shrieking, a kind of yelping noise that moves me out of bed. Slug-footed, I follow the crying to my window where I find a dirty, cream cat staring back at me with one good eye. Recently, I have noticed a slight increase in stray cats furtively crossing streets, sitting unperturbed in alleyways, and perching near the shed in my backyard.
This is far from an epidemic. The streets of Woodbridge Township are not crawling with fearless, bug-eyed felines. My observations pertain specifically to the area surrounding my block. But other neighbors have noticed the increase as well.
When asked whether or not the cats were a problem, one neighbor said, “Yes, and they’re having babies. I see the younger ones in my backyard.” They become a real problem when she walks her dog because they are not afraid. She believes the number of strays have increased with each year.
While the cats I’ve seen may not be getting the home they look for, Woodbridge Housing Authority and the Health Department’s Animal Control Staff have partnered to create the senior “Adopt a Cat Program.” These cats are meant to offer a sense of companionship for the elderly. Adoption fees, which were usually $25.00, are now $5.00 for seniors. For more info on pet adoption in Woodbridge click here: http://members.petfinder.org/%7ENJ254/