Furman’s campus is rife with wildlife. Students will see various animals when walking from Johns Hall to Trone, including squirrels, chipmunks and birds. One animal that they may not see as often but still has a sizable presence on campus is the stray cats. These adorable furry friends are often found roaming near the Eco Cabins and Furman Farm.
Living on a campus full of busy college students, these cats have garnered sympathy and love from the student body and faculty, inspiring the creation of a new club — PalaCats.
Originally founded by a former member of facilities, students have adopted the organization as their own. Now, Zoe Wiseman ‘27 heads the club alongside Vice President Will Jackson ‘27.
“Will Jackson and I got together, and we saw a need to help the campus cats,” Wiseman said. “We went in intending to make this a student org. so that when someone who leads it leaves, the program can still run.”
The organization’s biggest goal is to provide necessary veterinary care and medication to the campus cats. However, this has been challenging for the club members.
“Cats very much operate on their own schedule, so we have to find times that work for the cats and us,” Wiseman said.
Veterinary care for cats includes proper grooming, medication for illnesses and spaying and neutering. PalaCats’ status as a student organization allows them to use their budget toward these services.
After the campus cats are taken to veterinary clinics to be spayed and neutered, they are then released back into their home environments. Wiseman explained that this process is called TNR (Trap, Neuter, Release). This process keeps Furman’s stray cat population minimal
PalaCats also helps foster community.
“It’s a place where people like me, who want to become vets, have an outlet to help animals,” Wiseman said.
If students are interested in supporting PalaCats and helping the campus cats, they can keep up with the club through SyncDin. PalaCats is always looking for more members to help with their cause, so follow their Instagram to learn how to join and support their future events!
