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Meet the people who care for the feral cat population at Wits University

Driven by compassion, a devoted team of selfless Wits staff continue with their efforts to control and nurture the ever-present feral cat population.

If you are taking a walk through a secluded part of the Wits campus, you’ve likely bumped into a cat or two roaming the grounds. These are feral cats who live in various colonies scattered across its many campuses.

But how are these typically wild and unapproachable animals able to survive around so many people, and so close to the urban sprawl of Braamfontein? Surely, someone must be taking care of them?

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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 at the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, are two staff members who go above and beyond to care for the Wits’ feral cat population.

Both are part of the Wits Campus Cat Group, a long-standing initiative that has been committed to the welfare of feral cats on campus for decades. The initiative started in the 80s with librarian Aja Verhagen, who today, at 84, still comes onto the campus to feed the 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.

Helen Donovan and Paul den Hoed with one of the feral cats found at the Wits Campus.

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“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’, he highlights the importance of fostering a mindset that prioritises the community’s well-being.

Donavon explained that 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, 25 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.

She 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 1 000 feral cats, a fact that demonstrates how small acts of care build up over time and create a greater community impact.

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