Inhumanity Towards Feral Cats & Kittens in Joplin -News Report

Cat Cruelty in Joplin, Missouri – Inhumanity Towards Feral Cats & Kittens: Rights Radio™ with Dr. Joyce Starr

August 14, 2010

Joplin’s policy towards feral cats and kittens: Potential legal action against those who feed, neuter, and save them. My guest is a cat protector and feral cat expert, Lindsay Donzanti. Show Date: August 14, 2010.

Lindsay on Joplin Policy:

“Joplin has a feral cat problem and the powers that be are enforcing an ordinance forbidding the feeding and harboring of feral cats.

“If you trap a cat in Joplin, have it sterilized, and/or pay for shots, it’s now considered your cat.

“If you feed the cat after releasing it, you’re breaking the law.

“Rescuers are who own more than four cats are guilty of a misdemeanor.”

“But Joplin residents are not legally permitted to “own” or house more than four animals at a time. Those who keep four animals are not allowed to feed, catch, neuter, or vaccinate feral cats. Moreover, owners who release a cat back to the streets or to a colony are not allowed to feed them. If the cat is starving, you can’t intervene. Their solution is to starve these defenseless cats to death.

“I called the Director of Animal Services in Joplin and He confirmed this inhumane and misguided method of control, which has proven wholly ineffective elsewhere. It is SO cruel. We “colony caregivers” regard these cats as our pets" 

Homeless cats a Rights Radio Review with Lindsay Donzanti

View Letter to Editor Feral Cat Fight published by Dave Woods at Joplin Globe here

Cat and Kittens Trapped for Medical Care

A queen cat with her kittens came to our shelter.  The  cat had the good sense to realize that she needed our help as she had been wounded from fighting off a wild animal that threatened her kittens.

We needed to trap the injured queen cat and her kittens but this was not an easy task because this feral cat knew how to enter the trap without setting off the lever that closed the trap door.

After several days of trying to trap the queen cat and her kittens the trap door closed and we rushed mother cat and kitten to the animal clinic.

The injuries were extensive and the infection was terrible.  The veterinarian recommended putting both cats down but I said no, I asked them to try to save their lives.


I asked my veterinarian if she would heal and he said yes, that it would take time. The vet-technician who cares for both cat and kitten remarked that both cats were calm and showed no aggression to humans which is uncanny for feral cats.

Both cat and kitten underwent medical care for 21 days.  Upon release I cared for them at home for an additional 10 days by administering their treatments and feeding the cats grain free quality cat food with antioxidants to aid in keeping immune system strong. 

The adult queen cat was approximately two years old was released to return to the colony after she had finished her home care treatments. Orange tabby kitten that I called Charlie was socialized and I adopted him.  



Photograph of Lucy the feral cat at woods colony: 

Lucy in Thicket Den

Lucy at Feeding Station winter 2011

Lucy survives summer heat wave 2011

Lucy Late winter 2012