Almost every Tulane University student is familiar with the campus’s resident cat population. But as temperatures rise, and summery days last well into October, some students have voiced concerns for the well-being of our feline neighbors, as well as thoughts that perhaps the university itself should do a better job of caring for them.
Stray cats are extremely common in Louisiana and the South, as they are attracted to the warm weather. They live in bushes, hang out on campus and even interact with Tulane students.
One Tulane cat, Jeffrey, has become a campus celebrity, and his whereabouts are well-documented on a number of posts on Tulane’s social media app, Fizz, receiving thousands of likes and dozens of comments. These cats are almost universally loved by Tulane students, but they may be facing health problems in this unprecedented heat. This August, New Orleans matched its own record for hottest day in its history, and the heat is showing no signs of subsiding, even in mid-September.
These longer periods of heat pose risks for stray cats. One of the biggest problems for feral cats during heat waves is to find a water source so they can stay hydrated and avoid heatstroke, which can be deadly for cats. Cats are not huge water drinkers, but they require a certain amount of water and hydration in order to keep their kidneys functioning. As the global climate rises, it becomes increasingly difficult for cats to maintain their hydration.
The construction of the new River and Lake Residence Halls posed a new issue to the cats. A small cat colony of four to five stray cats had previously lived in the bushes next to Patterson Residence Hall, a dorm which has since been torn down and turned into a construction site. Tulane’s constant construction and deconstruction may displace some of these cats, who make homes under buildings or in bushes. According to Professor Barb Ryan, who takes care of these cats, “they are decreasing on the Gibson quad because there is a lot more construction.”
There is a student organization on campus that is dedicated to the care and wellbeing of Tulane’s campus cats. The group is called TU Campus Cats, and is entirely student run. This group tracks the lives of these cats, feeds them and makes sure they have water. Ryan, the faculty advisor to TU Campus Cats, said that the cats are taken care of mostly by herself and students. Ryan said there are about 20 to 25 cats that frequent the campus, and that almost all of them have been spayed, neutered and vaccinated, meaning students can pet them without worrying about contracting rabies. These cats get food and water from the club and the money to pay for their food and water comes out of Ryan’s own pocket, as well as those of her student advisors.
TU Campus Cats Club will host an official fundraising event on McAlister Place starting on Oct. 17, running for several days. Students will sell crafts, jewelry and artwork. The money raised will go toward vet bills to sustain Tulane’s cat population.
Although students do what they can, Tulane should do a better job of taking care of its stray cat population. Simply leaving out bowls of water in the places where they congregate could change the lives of these cats who are currently enduring extremely hot weather. These cats are universally-loved campus icons for students, and Tulane should do everything in their power to care for them, even if it just means fulfilling their basic needs.
