Great Guana Cats
HISTORY OF GUANA
HUMANE SOCIETY
Guana Humane Society was formed in 2014, with Unni Berg leading the initiative and activities. However, Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) clinics started pre-2014 with US volunteers, and traps borrowed from neighboring Green Turtle Cay. Guana Humane Society held 2 TNR clinics per year, sterilizing 8-12 cats per clinic until Hurricane Dorian in 2019. Costs were covered by donations and fundraisers in the form of casino nights and bubbles & bingo events.
A second homeowner and animal activist donated 10 Trucatch traps in addition to 10 larger steel raccoon traps. These traps, as well as the donated carriers of all shapes and sizes, were stored by local resident and cat lady Lisa Roberts. Lisa’s house was destroyed in Hurricane Dorian, all carriers were lost and only 15 of the rusted traps were salvaged and usable.
No clinics were held from September 2019 to March 2022, as recovery efforts, debris removal, reconnection of power took precedence. There was no veterinarian available as the clinics in Marsh Harbour were destroyed also. The cat population spiraled out of control once more.
CURRENT ACTIVITIES
Unni left Guana Cay and Twanette Keyser took over the reins and arranged the first post-Dorian clinic with Dr Bailey in March 2022. 17 cats were trapped and sterilized, and returned to their colonies. Another clinic in June 2022 fixed 20 cats; but the high mortality rate was of great concern, and the decision was made to make changes to the current program.
We approached BAARK! to piggyback on their clinic planned for Hope Town at the end of August 2022, but costs were prohibitive and we did not have enough volunteers available.
A second homeowner generously donated and flew in 13 cat carriers for post-surgery recovery.
Two Bubbles and Bingo events, as well as “sponsor-a-cat-surgery” campaigns raised enough funds for 2 clinics as well as the purchase of 20 new Trucatch traps. BAARK kindly assisted with a duty-free waiver application under their non-profit status.
Guana Humane Society procured the services of Dr Chante Wildgoose from Freeport for a 2 day clinic in March 2023, where 55 cats were trapped and sterilized. At a second clinic with Dr Chante in May 2023, another 15 cats were sterilized. A cat population count was carried out to the best of our ability. There are approximately 200 cats on Guana Cay, of which approximately 110 have been sterilized. Regular TNR clinics are paramount, to control the population.
FUTURE PLANS
We plan to place 10 feeding stations for large colonies. The first station was built and placed at Dolphin Beach Resort in April 2023, and 12-15 cats are fed there every day.
We understand that improving the health of the feral cats and feeding them daily, will likely result in larger litters, and our TNR efforts would have to intensify.
Ultimately, our first and foremost goal is to eradicate the overpopulation and reproduction of the cats on Guana Cay. In order to do so, we must accurately quantify the number of cats requiring sterilization. Providing feeding stations will allow us to identify most of them with consistent feeding schedules. Until we achieve a number of cats that are no longer reproducing, we want to ensure that the health and welfare of the current community cat population is addressed on a regular basis, now and moving forward. This will include providing monthly flea/tick and anti-parasite preventatives and regular monitoring of the area colonies for any cats that are sick or injured.