MEET THE PEOPLE WHO CARE FOR THE FERAL CAT POPULATION AT WITS UNIVERSITY

Driven by compassion, a devoted team of selfless Wits staff continue with their efforts to control and nurture the ever-present feral cat population.

If you’ve ever wandered through a quiet corner of the Wits campus, chances are you’ve come across a few cats casually roaming the grounds. These are feral cats, living in various colonies scattered across the campus. But how do these typically wild and elusive creatures manage to survive so close to the bustling urban area of Braamfontein, surrounded by so many people? Surely, someone must be looking after them.

This is where the kindness of a few dedicated Wits staff members comes in. Helen Donovan, a web designer and content editor, and Paul den Hoed, a lecturer at the School of Chemical and Metallurgical Engineering, are two individuals who go above and beyond to care for the university’s feral cat population. Both are active members of the Wits Campus Cat Group, a long-running initiative that has been dedicated to the welfare of these cats for decades.

The initiative began in the 1980s, founded by librarian Aja Verhagen, who, at 84, still visits the campus to feed the cats. Operating independently from the university, the group relies entirely on volunteers—Wits academic and admin staff who generously carve out time in their busy schedules to help.

“Once you start caring, you can’t turn back,” says den Hoed, describing the deep sense of responsibility he feels for the cats. He sees their work as a “social responsibility,” emphasizing the importance of prioritizing the well-being of the community.

Donovan adds that they often come in on weekends and after hours to feed the cats and clean their feeding stations. Because the group operates independently, they rely on donations and the support of a small network of contributors. At present, they purchase 25 bags of cat food every month out of their own pockets. Thankfully, Wits helps cover the cost of sterilization, which is done at a reduced rate.

To ensure the best care with limited resources, the group follows the trap-neuter-return (TNR) method. This process involves capturing, sterilizing, and ear-clipping the feral cats, then returning them to their original colonies on campus.

Donovan acknowledges the need for more help with the trapping process, as it is both time-consuming and labor-intensive. She also hopes for more volunteers to get involved. Being part of this initiative has allowed her to form strong connections with like-minded colleagues, and she believes the sense of community that comes from the work is incredibly rewarding.

Over the past four decades, the group has helped around 1,000 feral cats, a testament to how small acts of care can accumulate over time to create a lasting positive impact on the community.