The city of Kenner continues to struggle with a huge stray cat population that some residents say is out of control. 

But without the help of government, a program started by volunteers seems to be making some progress with the problem says Assistant City Attorney Debra Miller Yenni.

There are thousands of feral, unadoptable cats in Kenner, including a large colony of hundreds of cats at Laketown.

Even though it's illegal to feed these strays, volunteers have been doing so as part of their TNR (trap, release, neuter) program.

Assistant city attorney Debra Miller Yenni says the feeding is necessary, if these volunteers are to be able to trap these felines.  Gaining their trust through food is the only way to gain a small amount of trust with these nearly wild animals.

She says all of the cats at Laketown are now neutered, and there are large areas of Kenner that haven't seen a kitten in years.

It seems unorganized volunteers have been able to accomplish something city government just can't afford.

It's a monumental, costly endeavor to trap every cat in Kenner and have it spayed or neutered.  And Assistant city attorney Debra Miller Yenni says it's just as much of an insurmountable task to kill all the strays.

Yenni says there are no great solutions, but this TNR program seems to be the one that makes the most sense.  "And the way you can tell a cat is TNR'd, when they bring them in to get their surgery, they actually cut tip the end of their ear off."  Yenni says that's the international sign that a cat is no longer fertile, and it's called a tipped cat.

She says cats can multiply exponentially in Louisiana with our mild climate, having as many as three, possibly even four litters a year.

And for cat lovers, this is a special opportunity to adopt a pet at a lower price than usual this weekend.  The Louisiana Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (LA/SPCA) is kicking off Adopt-A-Shelter-Cat Month by offering reduced adoption fees for cats and kittens this weekend only.

The LA/SPCA says from Friday, June 1 through Sunday, June 3, all kittens will be available for an adoption fee of $25 and cats for a fee of $5. Standard adoption procedures will remain in effect and landlord permission is required.  The cost of a regular adoption, which includes the $80 adoption fee and the $10 rabies license fee, will be reduced in an effort to find forever homes for the cats and kittens currently at the LA/SPCA. Adoptions include spay/neuter surgery, micro-chipping, all vaccinations, a bag of cat food, and a New Orleans Rabies tag and license.
 
There are a variety of cats and kittens available for adoption ranging in age from 4 months to 7 years old the LA/SPCA says, "And each has their own vibrant personality. Stop by the LA/SPCA this weekend, located at 1700 Mardi Gras Blvd., or by our offsite adoption event on Saturday at Mid City Vet Hospital, located at 3821 Orleans Ave., from 11:30-3:00 p.m. to find your purr-fect companion!"