Group aims to curb Newcomerstown’s feral cat population

Cat TNR of Newcomerstown is working to reduce the village’s feral cat population, one colony at a time. TNR refers to the group’s approach: the proven trap-neuter-return method.

Jennifer Baker, the effort’s organizer, said she learned the full scope of the problem after getting involved early last year.

“I started in the spring of 2025, and I got my colony and my street taken care of,” she said. “Then we had our first meeting the first week in December,” after reaching out to Newcomerstown Mayor Pat Cadle, a strong supporter of the effort.

“With all the feral stray colonies in Newcomerstown,” Baker said, “there are well over 100 cats that people are feeding out of being kind and gracious, but the cats are reproducing. They have diseases. They’re sick.”

The group’s process starts with a live trap baited with food. Volunteers transport cats — six at a time — to AlterClinic Animal Care in Canton for veterinary care. The cats are then spayed or neutered.

After a day or two of recovery at AlterClinic, a driver picks them up and takes them to what the group calls its healing center — part of Cadle’s garage, Baker said. After another day or two of recovery (longer for females), the cats are returned to the area they know. Unable to reproduce, the population is reduced over time.

Baker said the approach also improves the cats’ health.

“If they need an antibiotic, they get that while they’re being cared for,” she said. “Their overall health is looked after, too.”

Baker encouraged cat owners to spay or neuter their pets.

“There are many low-cost options to get that done,” she said. “Tractor Supply runs specials monthly, and that information is on their website. You can also call around local vets. Many of them have programs in place for low-cost spaying and neutering, especially for barn cats or cats who spend their time outside.”

Reducing feral cat populations can also benefit pet owners, Baker said, because feral tomcats may attack domestic cats that are let outside. They can also spread disease.

Cat TNR is tackling the issue in phases, Baker said.

“We’re going colony by colony,” she said. “There are two larger colonies in Newcomerstown made up of 40 to 50 cats just in those two. Then there are smaller colonies. We’re working on the smaller colonies first, and then we’ll focus more on the larger ones. It makes more sense with the small amount of money we’ve saved to go after the smaller ones first for a greater impact.”

TNR Newcomerstown operates on private donations, Baker said.

“We’re starting fundraisers here and there to raise money to do this,” she said. “We also need donations of things like wet cat food, puppy pads, blankets, live traps, crates and things like that.”

Volunteers are welcome, she said, particularly to help plan fundraisers.

For more information, contact Baker at 330-440-3196.