Sundae Horn
It's a family affair! Mariesa and Howard Johnson, with their kids Kate, Kara, and Kevin, pose with Aleta and Scott Schroeder and a sedated kitty.
It's a family affair! Mariesa and Howard Johnson, with their kids Kate, Kara, and Kevin, pose with Aleta and Scott Schroeder and a sedated kitty.

Visiting veterinarians fixed both feral and pet cats.

The non-profit organization Ocracats sponsored another spay/neuter clinic on the island this week. Dr. Howard Johnson from Boone, NC, and Dr. Scott Schroeder from Winston-Salem performed surgeries on forty cats, most of which were feral creatures that had been trapped by Ocracats volunteers. The cats also got rabies shots, as needed.

Dr. Johnson's kids and Dr. Schroeder's wife are put to work helping with the clinic.
Dr. Johnson's kids and Dr. Schroeder's wife are put to work helping with the clinic.

The Ocracats spay/neuter program has been quite successful – and the proof is in the fact they’ve had fewer and fewer cats to neuter each time the vets visit.

This time around, the doctors discovered some disturbing injuries in the cats trapped near dump and post office area. Some cats were recovering from minor wounds, and even had air rifle pellets still imbedded in their skin. Someone has been using cats for target practice! Need we say that the vets and Ocracats are upset by this new trend? The kind of people who shoot at stray cats probably aren’t reading an article about an organization dedicated to their care, but just in case, dear readers, please stop. Cats have feelings, too! Neutering is the far more humane way to stop kitties from reproducing. 

OVFD generously allowed the cat clinic to set up in the Fire Hall.

Kate Johnson shows off her cat-shaving skills.
Kate Johnson shows off her cat-shaving skills.

Funds for the clinic came from a Petsmart grant, OISFT, and other donations, including a cottage from Norman Miller. 

You can make a tax-free donation to Ocracats, PO Box 993, Ocracoke, NC 27960. 

Ocracats raised over $2000 in sales of t-shirts, notecards, and calendars, as well as donations over the 3-day clinic.
Ocracats raised over $2000 in sales of t-shirts, notecards, and calendars, as well as donations over the 3-day clinic.