SHAWANO, WI – An increase in stray and feral cats across Shawano County is leading to confusion among residents, but local volunteers are stepping in to offer clarity and solutions.
Chris Tetting, a volunteer and foster with the Shawano County Humane Society, says the shelter has seen a growing number of free-roaming cats and is now working with the University of Wisconsin–Madison to implement a strategy known as “Return to Field.”
“We’re working with them on a relatively new concept of putting cats back where they are found instead of trying to make them an inside cat or a pet,” said Tetting. “It’s called return to the field.”
Unlike traditional trap, neuter, and release (TNR) programs, which aim to sterilize and rehome outdoor cats, the Shawano County Humane Society does not operate a TNR program and lacks the funding and staffing to do so. Tetting emphasized that the shelter is focused on housing domesticated indoor cats and is not equipped to handle large numbers of feral animals.
“We are not experts in the trap, neuter, and release program,” Tetting said. “We don’t have that program. We don’t have grants or finances to do that kind of thing.”
Despite limited resources, Tetting says the “Return to Field” model is already showing promise in helping to control the population of unowned outdoor cats in the community.
Residents who encounter a stray or feral cat are encouraged to contact the humane society for guidance.
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