El Pasoans take unique approach to controlling feral cat population

Several El Pasoans are taking time out of their day to help control an over population of cats here in the Borderland.

Benjamin Alva is one of those helping feral cats around his central El Paso neighborhood.

He says he traps them so he can take them to El Paso Animal Services to get spayed and neutered before they are re-released.

It is part of the ‘community cat’ program which launched back in 2016.

A city ordinance allows the cats to be free-roaming and avoid being euthanized.

Animal Services says the program, and residents like Alva, have helped save about 16,000 cats since it started.

Animal Services says in 2014 more than 13,000 cats came to their shelter — more than 9,000 of those were euthanized.

To learn more about the Community Cat Program, click here.