St. Thomas hotels and resorts work with Humane Society of St. Thomas to support Cat Cafés

The Humane Society of St. Thomas’ Cat Café program begins to address the feral cat overpopulation on St. Thomas, one of the U.S. Virgin Islands. The program was originally adapted from the Cat Café program of the McKee Project in Costa Rica. Designed for tourist locations and resort properties, the Cat Café program provides spaying or neutering, feeding and veterinary care for small colonies of cats (typically no more than 6-20 animals). Participating tourism properties include: Bluebeards Beach Properties, Magen’s Bay Beach, Island View Guest House, Magen's Point Resort, Bolongo Bay Beach Resort, Emerald Beach Resort, Sapphire Beach Resort, and the Old Mill Nightclub.

When expanding the Cat Café to a new hotel, resort or restaurant, the Humane Society of St. Thomas first meets with property managers to explain the Cat Café program. Once the manager indicates an interest in participating in the program, the Humane Society identifies the number of cats at the property and a location for a feeding station. The next step is to trap the cats, spay or neuter them, and then return them to the property. Feeding stations that blend in with the property’s architecture are placed in areas away from restaurants and primary guest areas where food is available. Cats can then be fed regularly and observed to ensure they are in good health. Tourists view the feeding stations as beautiful and humane alternatives for cat care. Collection boxes and signs at each resort with a Cat Café explain that cats are fed regularly; guests are invited to give a donation rather than feed cats themselves. Donations allow the program to be self sustaining, so that food and veterinary care are part of the long term solution.

The Cat Café program is individually designed for each location. Current participants in the program include:
Bluebeards Beach Properties - The cats are fed daily by a group of students from Antilles School who are part of the National Honor Society. Almost all cats are spayed and neutered and there have been comments from many tourists on how well the cats look and how much more pleasant their visit has been knowing that the cats are happy and healthy.
Magen's Bay Beach - The Charlotte Amalie High School Art department painted the Cat Café at Magen’s Bay Beach.
Island View Guest House will receive one of the Cat Cafes in the coming weeks; owner Ron Kikeadall and his wife Beth are very committed to the program and satisfied that the cats are doing their job in keeping rodents at bay.
Magen's Point Resort - At least 25 felines living on this property are fed daily by a member of the groundskeeping staff. The arrangement works well in keeping the cats away from the restaurant. Resort owners Mike and Mercedes Shelby are convinced that spaying and neutering is the only answer and have committed their personal funds to end cat overpopulation on their property.
Bolongo Bay Beach Resort - The Cat Cafe works well for this family operated resort. The owners have been long term supporters of the Humane Society and some of the first to embrace a no-kill policy on their premises.
Emerald Beach Resort – A Cat Cafe should be installed shortly. There are a few cats living on the premises that have been spayed and neutered and are being fed daily by the taxi drivers.
Sapphire Beach Resort - Cats are being fed daily by a volunteer; the Humane Society of St. Thomas is in the process of organizing a trap-neuter-release program.
Old Mill Nightclub - Cats are fed and spayed or neutered. A donation box will soon be made available for tourists wishing to support the program.

For additional information on the St. Thomas Humane Society Cat Cafe program, contact the Humane Society of St. Thomas, http://www.hsstt.com or E-mail Cat Cafe program director Dellia Holodenschi, delliavi@aol.com

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