Spaying and neutering kittens can help keep feral cat populations from getting out of control. (photo courtesy of Mary Jo Godges and Renee Sotile)

When Mary Jo Godges and Renee Sotile saw a need in the city of West Hollywood, they did everything they could to fill it. Thanks to their efforts, the city now has the Community Cats Program, which helps to trap, neuter and return felines and curb overpopulation in West Hollywood.

Over 10 years ago, the couple noticed that a calico had appeared in their front yard with kittens, and this spurred a search for how to take care of spaying the cat. They discovered that within the city, protocol and resources just didn’t exist.

“I thought … we need to get ahead of this and try to solve this, because we’re going to get run over with a bunch of cats,” said Sotile, who continued to detail how neither West Hollywood nor Beverly Hills had any services for them.

“Then we found out from walking the neighborhood that there were a lot of colonies,” she added.

“We thought, ‘Something needs to be done here. We need to stop this multiplying for the health of the community and the cats,’” Godges said.

Sotile added that if there were a bunch of dogs running around the way feral cats do, people would better understand the overpopulation problem.

“In the early 1990s, West Hollywood was declared an animal cruelty-free city,” Godges said. “So, [we thought] this is just one more thing to do in the involvement of that to continue that.”

Godges and Sotile became feral cat experts, working to curb the population within their own neighborhood, recruiting other residents to assist and eventually getting the city itself to implement a resource program. After previously establishing guidelines for trapping, neutering and returning cats in 2019, the city launched its own local program in May.

The city is partnered with the animal rescue organization the Amanda Foundation to provide services. To help trap and spray and neuter cats, a permit is required. Residents can apply by visiting weho.org/city-government/city-departments/community-safety/neighborhood-and-business-safety/animal-care-and-control/community-cats.

“It’s still in its infancy, and we’ve been walking through some of the fixes with people so we know some of the things that need to be changed, and we’re just making little adjustments,” Sotile said.

Female cats have the ability to reproduce every three to four months, and from a very young age. Often the resources of shelters and rescue organizations are strained as a result. Male cats, meanwhile, are significantly less aggressive after neutering, which puts a stop to cat fights.

In May, the City Council approved the program, and already its impact is being felt.

“I’m glad the city was able to move forward and implement this program, which has already been successful,” Mayor Pro Tempore John Erickson said. “I’m looking forward to how it’s going to continue to help our community cat population for the foreseeable future.”

Erickson also expressed his thanks and admiration for Godges and Sotile for their efforts in bringing the program to fruition.

In an example of how well the program is already working, Anawalt Lumber at 641 N. Robertson Blvd. saw an explosion of cats in its yard over the summer, jumping from two or three to more than 10, according to store manager Basil Alexander. The cats had become favorites of the workers, who took to feeding them in the morning and evening.

The intervention of the West Hollywood Community Cat Program kept the size of the cat colony under control. One morning a couple weeks ago, the program tipped off the workers, “do not feed the cats.”

A day later, the hungry cats walked into humane traps (pet carriers) that had been set with food inside. They were taken to be spayed or neutered, vaccinated and flea treated. Their ears were tipped to indicate that they had been fixed, and then they were returned to Anawalt, which they had come to consider home.

The Anawalt employees, too, had become fond of the cats. One worker, Armando Moradel, prayed in Spanish as the last kittens were be taken away, “You’re off to a better life.”

Godges and Sotile note that it is best for cats to be returned to the area they were trapped from, since cats are territorial and consider it to be their domain. They also encouraged community members to get involved.

“It does take a village to herd a cat,” Godges said.