History of the Campus Cats Part One
Almost anyone who’s stepped onto Centenary’s campus, specifically around the Caf deck or the Admissions building, has likely seen some of Centenary’s most beloved residents: the campus cats. For many colleges, campus cats are a well-loved part of the college experience, especially when the cats are given fun names or even social media accounts. Centenary is no stranger to this, having a long history of campus cats that are taken care of by students, faculty, staff, and alumni. Curious about just how far the cat-rabbit-hole went, I messaged a variety of individuals about their experiences with the cats, and lo and behold, there was a lot to say- so much so that I’m going to be writing a two-part article because, as a cat lover, these friendly felines deserve to have their stories told. So today, we’ll dive into a brief recent history of the campus cats, including the origin and end of Centenary’s famous cat, Bonk, and how to better care for the campus cats as students.
The first individual I messaged was Katherine Shamburger, Director of Res. Life on campus, and she reported that campus cats had been around for a long time. “Students in Rotary used to leave out food for a community cat a few years ago,” She told me. “But we had to stop because the food was attracting raccoons who would also rummage through trashcans on balconies.” But luckily, the campus cats continue to be well-fed, but not by students. After reaching out to others, I found that a huge connection of Centenary people banded together to take care of these cats. Anne-Marie Bruner-Tracey, Assistant Dean for Global Travel, was ecstatic to talk to me about the campus cats, and she knew everything there was to know about the caretaking team.
One question I personally had in mind came to me one Sunday morning when I witnessed a woman feeding two cats near Northside. This was absolutely shocking to me, because the two (a tabby and a black and white cat, which I’ll discuss more in my next article) had never approached anyone I’ve seen, except for her, and they were very friendly. Ms. Anne-Marie informed me this was Patty Roberts, Centenary alumna, who was also the former Director of Grants. “She (and now I) have worked with the Community Cat Assistance Program to undertake TNR (Trap-Neuter-Release) with campus cats. CCAP helps get our feral cats booked in for neuter/spay at Robinson’s Rescue at low to no cost,” Anne-Marie informed me, and also mentioned that donations are essential to keep these cats healthy and happy (and kitten-free!). Besides these two, a number of people are involved in caring for the cats, including Ashley Brown, Stacey Walker, Connie Whittington, Lauron Callaway, and Bethany Hansen.
The love for these cats is apparent, not only from these individuals, but from Centenary students in general. I can’t count the number of times I’ll sit on the Caf deck, see one of the feral cats go by, and smile at how sweet they are, a sentiment shared by many of my friends. It was especially apparent to me even before I came to Centenary because while scrolling through Instagram, I found an account dedicated solely to a black and white campus cat: Bonk. Newer students may not be aware of Bonk, but before Covid times, he was the campus cat and adored by all. Bonk enjoyed wandering the grounds, pets from campus dwellers, and was given lots of care by the cat-team mentioned above. However, someone decided to move Bonk to Ochsner Health, where he stayed for a bit, moving back and forth between his homes (unfortunately, against his will). With that, Bonk’s story ends…
…Or so most thought. I was quite excited to meet this fun campus cat when I came to Centenary and was saddened to find out that after his sightings off-campus, Bonk wasn’t seen again for a long time. But this past year, I spoke with a recent graduate who revealed to me they had adopted Bonk. Like other students, this graduate was concerned for the boy they’d come to love. And one day, after witnessing Bonk dart through traffic, they decided that he needed a safer home than on the streets and took him home that day. “He’s spoiled rotten,” they told me when I asked them how Bonk was doing. “He’s 21 lbs, solid as a rock, and the king of his domain.”
However, even though Bonk’s story ends on a happy note, it’s VERY important to remember that students shouldn’t take campus cats from campus unless they go through the proper steps. “If students befriend a cat or cats, most especially ones that have been fixed and cared for by staff (who have often also made donations, or paid for neutering costs, or bought things including food or flea meds out of their own pockets), it is NOT reasonable to simply ‘cat-nap’ a cat and adopt it with a ‘never you mind.’ Several staff members (and students) have been devastated in the past when this has happened,” Anne-Marie also told me. “If someone legitimately wants to adopt a campus cat properly, they should communicate with the current caretakers AND consider making a donation.”
So, what can a student do if a new cat appears and raises concern? Anne-Marie gave me some good information: if a cat has a clipped or slightly split ear, it’s been fixed and won’t increase the feral population. “Be mindful, slow to approach while using a calm voice, and extremely aware if the cat starts to show signs of distress; a frightened cat may respond with clawing or biting (they are wild animals and NOT the same as your housecat), and we don’t want anyone to be hurt,” she also reminds students. “If a cat does NOT have a clipped ear, or is acting sick, the responsible human should email me and give me as much information on where and how I might find the cat and try to help them. Things like color, gender, distinct markings, the location they were seen (or heard if mewing kittens!), or the direction they were headed will be helpful.”
It’s my hope this article has given residents a better understanding of the cats on campus, their history, and what we all can do as a part of the Centenary family to help better these animals’ lives. They are part of the family as much as we are, and by taking care of them, not only can we secure future students’ experiences with campus cats, keep them safe, and decrease the feral cat population.
Next week: the sequel to this article, discussing current campus cats and their stories!
Special thanks to Anne-Marie Bruner-Tracey, Katherine Shamburger, Ashley Dehart, and all of Centenary’s cat caretakers!
If you would like to help, here are some links:
Follow CCAP on FB: https://www.facebook.com/sheritnr
Donating via PayPal to CCAP: https://www.paypal.com/donate/?cmd=_s-xclick&hosted_button_id=DFEGX8F43C77N&fbclid=IwAR18wQdAj63NLQxTVIIq6tL3avsYoqGvraHovJqg4qSyRYTkBw_Cnb2kUsw
Chewy Wish List (to be sent directly to Sheri to help with cats she is fostering): https://www.chewy.com/g/shreveport-bossier-community-cat-assistance-project_b84525078
