Among cat aficionados there has been concern for some time about the plight of at least two large colonies of feral cats that survive on the wild side of Great Neck. These colonies began with a few abandoned cats that can and do breed at an astonishing geometric rate. The North Shore Animal League estimates that in ten years one breeding pair of feral cats can result in ... a million cats.

We are not up to a million feral cats in Great Neck, but the estimates of their numbers are currently in the hundreds.

One colony of mostly black and white cats live near the Long Island Rail Road tracks in the vicinity of the Plaza's U.S. Post Office. The other feral cats that roam without benefit of protective shots and birth control are in the southeast section of the Village of Great Neck Estates.

An informal network of humans has been feeding these cats and this winter someone erected a tent to shelter the Plaza cats.

Many people are concerned because the unvaccinated cats are subject to diseases, untreated wounds from catfights and run-ins with raccoons and live a rugged, on the edge, life. Some also prey on songbirds whose populations are in rapid decline.

As reported in National Geographic News, recent studies have warned that feral cats might play a role of vector in avian flu transmitting the virus through mammalian species. Cats can become infected from eating infected birds and can spread it to other cats. It should be noted that there is no current evidence that influenza-infected cats can in turn infect humans. (American Journal of Pathology, Jan. '06) But scientists are closely monitoring developments in the avian flu situation.

For all of these reasons, but mostly because they just love cats and want to in time reduce the number of stray cats without loving homes, a few Great Neck people have investigated what it would take to humanely trap, neuter, vaccinate and release the cats (whose left ears are tipped to indicate that they have been treated) back into their territories. What they have learned is that hands-on volunteers and community-wide support and cooperation are needed for such a project.

Cooky Blaha who has decided to spearhead the effort says, "We need people to give their input and ideas so that we can organize this effort properly. We hope to get the cooperation of local vets and we're going to need lots of volunteers to help." If you are interested in helping, you may call Ms. Blaha at 482-8912.