MADISON HEIGHTS, Mich. – Some neighbors say residents have reported seeing more unowned cats roaming neighborhoods, mobile home parks and local parks across Madison Heights. Rachel Hermann, an animal advocate working with a small volunteer team, said many of the animals are too frightened to be socialized.
“Unfortunately, most of the cats, they are pretty feral, and we don’t have enough people to work to socialize them,” Hermann said.
Volunteers have been surveying locations and setting live traps — including two‑ended traps rented from a local organization called All About Animals. The traps are part of a standard TNR approach, or Trap, Neuter, and Return: trap, transport to a veterinarian to be spayed or neutered, then return the cats to where they were found unless they can be socialized and placed for adoption.
“We’re doing humane trapping using a live trap… so, we trap them, we take them to a vet and they’ll be spayed or neutered and we release them back into the community or where we originally trapped them, unless they are adoptable,” Hermann explained.
Volunteers say they have been busy. Hermann said the team has handled nearly 40 cats in the last couple of months in one area alone. But the growing number of community cats is stretching volunteer capacity and resources.
“It’s up to us, like as a whole, as a community, to fix the problem,” Hermann said.
Volunteers are using social media to raise awareness and to recruit help. They urge residents to consider:
- Donating to cover veterinary costs (veterinary fees average about $30 per cat, volunteers say).
- Borrowing or setting a humane trap and contacting volunteers for guidance.
- Reporting problem colonies to local animal control or volunteer groups.
- Considering adoption for kittens or any cats that can be socialized.
Hermann said volunteers are coordinating with animal control officers and local rescues. Cats that can be socialized are being placed for adoption; feral cats are returned to their original location after sterilization to help reduce further breeding and curb nuisance behaviors over time.
Anyone who wants to learn more about TNR or offer help is asked to reach out via Rachel Hermann’s Facebook page here.
Donations to support veterinary care can be made using the following:
- Venmo: @RachelHermann
- PayPal: Rachel Hermann
- Zelle: rachelphermann@gmail.com
- CashApp: $RachelHermannn