A purrfect solution?
Veterinarian paring Peabody’s cat colonies
Staff writer
An effort to address Peabody’s feral cat population is being led not by a formal program or agency but by a local veterinarian using her own time, resources, and community support to make a difference.
Virginia Skinner of Peabody Veterinary Clinic has taken on the challenge using a trap-neuter-return approach to reduce the number of stray and feral cats while ensuring they are treated humanely.
Peabody has several feral cat colonies, some numbering two to three dozen animals each, contributing to a broader population that has spread across neighborhoods, Skinner said.
Skinner thought she was in a position to act.
“I’m different here,” she said. “I’m very much older, and I can do things my colleagues can’t do with my clinic. They have their niche that they are good at, and this is mine.”
Skinner has been trapping cats, spaying or neutering them, and either returning them to their original loca-tions or placing them in new homes.
Euthanasia is not part of her plan, Skinner said.
“I’m not doing that,” she said. “I’ll find someplace for them.”
Cats that can be socialized are adopted out, while others are placed in farm or barn settings. Several already have found homes, with more awaiting placement.
The effort includes safeguards to avoid repeatedly trapping the same animals. Cats that have been altered are marked so they can be identified and released without being recaptured.
Skinner is mindful of concerns about accidentally trapping owned pets. While distinguishing between feral and domestic cats is not always immediate, she relies on observation and community communication to resolve those situations.
In one instance, a cat initially believed to be stray was reclaimed by its owner after word about the ongoing effort spread.
“The people know that we’re doing this,” Skinner said. “When they have cats that disappear, they know where to go.”
The work comes at a cost in supplies and time. Skinner has kept expenses manageable while relying on community donations of money, food, and supplies to sustain the work. Volunteers have assisted with trapping and care.
Porcupine Tea Company owner Pandea Smith has played a central role in organizing that support.
The initiative grew organically after conversations between Smith and Skinner, both of whom shared con-cerns about the local cat population.
Working with Skinner, Smith helps track cats being processed and connects community members to the effort. Since then, the effort has gained momentum, with more than 30 cats addressed so far.
At the tea shop, a public log tracks where cats are found, whether they are male or female, and what ultimately happens to them—whether they are released, adopted, or relocated.
The work is intentionally collaborative, with residents in affected areas consulted before cats are returned to ensure someone is willing to monitor and feed them, Smith said.
“It’s very, very much in conjunction with the citizens who will be directly impacted,” she said.
While the primary focus has been cats, the effort has extended to other animals. Smith noted that several dogs had been adopted out as part of a broader push to address stray animals in the community.
For Skinner, the work is as much about community as it is about animal care. The response from residents has been encouraging, with many stepping forward to help in whatever way they can.
“I have been so encouraged by the reaction of the townspeople,” she said.
Skinner and Smith hope it not only improves conditions in Peabody but also serves as a model for how small communities can come together to address persistent issues in a humane, practical way.