{"id":176881,"date":"2026-03-03T21:56:25","date_gmt":"2026-03-03T21:56:25","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/176881\/"},"modified":"2026-03-03T21:56:25","modified_gmt":"2026-03-03T21:56:25","slug":"broadway-palm-and-cape-coral-animal-shelter-join-forces-to-draw-attention-to-lee-county-cat-crisis-wgcu-news","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/176881\/","title":{"rendered":"Broadway Palm and Cape Coral Animal Shelter join forces to draw attention to Lee County cat crisis | WGCU News"},"content":{"rendered":"

There are an estimated 250,000 feral and community cats on the loose in Lee County on any given day. Executive Director of the Cape Coral Animal Shelter Liz McCauley explains the problem in human terms.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe have people that walk into our shelter every single day with a box of kittens and say, hey, found these kittens,\u201d McCauley remarked. \u201cWe don’t know where mom’s at. Sometimes six, seven, eight of them at a time. It is a crisis.\u201d<\/p>\n

The shelter is collaborating with Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre for its current production of \u201cCATS.\u201d It\u2019s intended to raise awareness about the magnitude of the problem and, hopefully, inspire people to adopt some of the shelter\u2019s cats and kittens. The shelter desperately needs more room. As a managed acceptance facility, Cape Coral Animal Shelter can only accept what they have room for.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are in the process of expanding though,\u201d said McCauley optimistically. \u201cWe are getting ready within the next few months to break ground on a 19,000-square-foot additional shelter, which is going to quadruple the amount of room we have for cats, which is going to be really important. We’ll be able to save a lot more.\u201d<\/p>\n

Shelter capacity treats the symptom, not the cause.<\/p>\n

McCauley says there\u2019s a pressing need to trap, spay and vaccinate to reduce the feral and community cat population.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere’s just not enough programs in the community to get that done,\u201d she noted. \u201cSo we are trying to work with Lee County and some of the vets in the community to take care of that problem. Our shelter alone is doing at least two trap-neuter-release clinics on Sundays, at least two a month we’re trying to do, to just try to get that population down.\u201d<\/p>\n

To get the word out, Broadway Palm invited Cape Coral Animal Shelter to attend opening night with several cats and kittens. The theater donated $5 for every ticket sold for its performances of \u201cCATS\u201d on March 1st. And patrons have the opportunity to purchase a paper paw during each performance for $5 that they can write on and post in the lobby.<\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

With ‘CATS,’ Broadway Palm delivers a high-quality show that places a premium on production value.<\/p>\n

But Broadway Palm is also delivering a high-quality show that places a premium on production value. The set and lighting are sensational. The costumes reflect each feline\u2019s unique character. With a haunting melody and poignant lyrics, \u201cMemory\u201d is one of Andrew Lloyd Webber\u2019s greatest songs. And Director Amy Marie McCleary\u2019s choreography perfectly encapsulates cats’ distinctive movements.<\/p>\n

\"Scene<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Director Amy Marie McCleary\u2019s choreography perfectly encapsulates cats\u2019 distinctive movements. <\/p>\n

\u201cWe try to incorporate that in our choreography, in their grace and then also like sudden movements like that,\u201d said McCleary. \u201cOne of the things that’s so wonderful about this show as an actor is that you get to use your entire body to express how you’re feeling. People who don’t understand the show sometimes don’t realize how powerful it is when they see those emotions expressed with a full physicality.\u201d<\/p>\n

Metaphorically, \u201cCATS\u201d recognizes the wisdom and heritage contributed to society by those of a more mature age.<\/p>\n

The Jellicle Cats\u2019 patriarch is the wise and revered Old Deuteronomy. The retired theater cat, Asparagus, brings a sense of nostalgia and sentimentality to the Jellicles. But it\u2019s the aging glamour cat, Grizabella, who truly tests the Jellicles\u2019 social structure.<\/p>\n

\"Abigail<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Abigail Aldridge brings a depth of vulnerability, grace and quiet resignation to the role of Grizabella.<\/p>\n

\u201cShe, as an older woman, is ostracized, and sometimes we don’t celebrate older women as much as we should,\u201d McCleary observed. \u201cSo, that is the message that I’m trying to reach with this production and how she is allowed to evolve and become something new by the end of the play.\u201d<\/p>\n

Abigail Aldridge plays Grizabella. She brings a depth of vulnerability, grace and quiet resignation to the role.<\/p>\n

\u201cKind of the essence of the show is about acceptance,\u201d Aldridge noted. \u201cAs the show kind of goes along, we see Grizabella come back to the group and continue to be rejected until the end when she sings \u2018Memory.\u2019\u201d<\/p>\n

“CATS” plays on the Broadway Palm mainstage through April 4.<\/p>\n

\"Giselle<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Giselle Meyer, Olivia Georgio and Fiona Mowbray as Jellylorum, Bombalurina and Demeter in ‘CATS.’ <\/p>\n

MORE INFORMATION:<\/p>\n

“\u2019CATS\u2019 is based on T.S. Eliot’s 1939 poetry collection, ‘Old Possum’s Book of Practical Cats,\u2019” McCleary pointed out. <\/p>\n

Eliot\u2019s widow gave Andrew Lloyd Webber permission to use her late husband\u2019s work, and the composer began collaborating with lyricist Richard Stilgoe and director Trevor Nunn in the early 1980s to bring the production to life.<\/p>\n

Following its 1981 premiere, \u201cCATS\u201d went on to become one the fifth longest-running Broadway show and the eighth longest-running West End show of all time. The London production ran for 21 years and 8,949 performances, while the Broadway production ran for 18 years and 7,485 performances, making \u201cCATS\u201d the longest-running musical in both theater districts for a number of years. The musical has been revived twice in the West End and one time on Broadway.<\/p>\n

The production has been translated into multiple languages and performed globally. By 2012, it had grossed over $3.5 billion worldwide.<\/p>\n

\"Dance<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

The Broadway production of ‘CATS’ ran for 18 years and 7,485 performances, making it the longest-running Broadway musical for a number of years. <\/p>\n

Its success has been attributed to its unique concept, whimsical storytelling, memorable music, and the immersive experience it offers to theatergoers. The musical\u2019s enduring popularity is a testament to its ability to capture the imagination of audiences and transport them to a world of feline fantasy.<\/p>\n

The musical features iconic songs, including “Memory,” which has become a classic in musical theater. The emotional depth of the music, combined with McCleary\u2019s choreography, creates a visually stunning performance that captivates audiences. Incorporating elements of ballet, modern dance and jazz, the choreography replicates the graceful and sudden movements through which cats express their individual personalities.<\/p>\n

\"Scene<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

\/<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

The success of ‘CATS’ has been attributed to its unique concept, whimsical storytelling, memorable music, and the immersive experience it offers to theatergoers. <\/p>\n

\u201cEven before we started the rehearsal process, I was sending the cast videos of different cat movements,\u201d said McCleary. \u201cI went to the Cattyshack Cat Cafe [in Gulf Coast Town Center] to watch cats and just sort of get inspired by the way that they move.\u201d<\/p>\n

In that, she was also aided by Webber\u2019s complex musical score.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere’s a lot of time signatures that are very unexpected,\u201d McCleary observed. <\/p>\n

\"Caleb<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Caleb Summers brings swagger, infectious energy and dynamic dance moves to the role of the charismatic tuxedo tom Rum Tum Tugger. <\/p>\n

\u201cSkimbleshanks is written in 13\/8, which is crazy. [A 13\/8 time signature in music is an odd or “crooked” meter where each measure (or bar) contains 13 eighth notes. It is considered a compound or complex time signature because it doesn’t divide evenly into standard groups of two, three, or four.] So I think it’s that element of how cats are always darting this way and that, and you feel that in the tempo of the music and the time signature of the music. Same with lots of the fugue elements that he incorporates, lots of classical elements.\u201d<\/p>\n

Another defining feature of “CATS” is its sung-through or rock opera format. The entire musical is performed without any spoken dialogue. This character-driven narrative encourages the audience to connect with each individual cat, who introduces itself through its own song and dance sequences to showcase the unique stories and character traits.<\/p>\n

\"Scene<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

The musical’s character-driven narrative encourages the audience to connect with each individual cat, who introduces itself through its own song and dance sequences to showcase the unique stories and character traits.<\/p>\n

The influence of Grizabella<\/p>\n

This is McCleary\u2019s third time directing and choreographing \u201cCATS,\u201d and she\u2019s placed greater emphasis on Grizabella\u2019s character arc.<\/p>\n

Grizabella was once the most glamorous of the Jellicle tribe but as she aged, her beauty faded. She returns in disgrace and is rejected multiple times by the Jellicles. Isolated and ridiculed throughout the show, she gradually reveals the depth of her sorrow and the strength of her spirit in her rendition of \u201cMemory.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Abigail<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Grizabella was once the most glamorous of the Jellicle Tribe but as she aged, her beauty faded. <\/p>\n

\u201cThe message I’m trying to express with this production is how she is allowed to evolve and become something new by the end of the play,\u201d said McCleary. \u201cShe’s kind of holding on to her youth, as many women try to do, but it’s okay to evolve and become something else.\u201d<\/p>\n

Her grace under fire and the song\u2019s plea for acceptance ultimately earns her Deuteronomy\u2019s blessing and the opportunity for redemption.<\/p>\n

\u201cMemory\u201d has now attained show tune immortality. It has been covered by countless artists and featured in numerous films and TV shows. <\/p>\n

Grizabella\u2019s character arc, from outcast to hero, is one of the most moving and resonant in musical theatre history.<\/p>\n

\"Abigail<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

\/<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Grizabella\u2019s character is based on T.S. Eliot\u2019s poem ‘Rhapsody on a Windy Night,’ which tells the story of a lonely woman wandering the streets at night. <\/p>\n

Grizabella\u2019s character is based on T.S. Eliot\u2019s poem, \u201cRhapsody on a Windy Night,\u201d which tells the story of a lonely woman wandering the streets at night. She is played for Broadway Palm by Abigail Aldridge. Originally from New Orleans, the NYC-based actor\u2019s stage credits include Miss Shields in \u201cA Christmas Story,\u201d Tammy in \u201cEscape to Margaritaville\u201d and Paulette in \u201cLegally Blonde.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Amy<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Amy Marie McCleary has centered this production of ‘CATS’ around Grizabella’s character arc over the course of the show. <\/p>\n

Other Jellicles<\/p>\n

Old Deuteronomy is the wise, benevolent elderly leader of the Jellicle tribe who has lived many lives. His projects a companionable mixture of wisdom and humility alongside warmth and good humor. It is his role to choose which cat will ascend to the Heaviside Layer to be reborn, so in a sense, the other Jellicles are auditioning for this honor. Deuteronomy\u2019s dignified presence gives the show a spiritual anchor.<\/p>\n

The character is played by Jacob Medich, who just completed his run as Tevye in Broadway Palm\u2019s production of \u201cFiddler on the Roof,\u201d which he also performed at Broadway Palm\u2019s Dutch Apple location. Other credits include Audrey 2 in \u201cLittle Shop of Horrors and Claude Frollo in \u201cHunchback of Notre Dame.\u201d Recently, Medich opened the third location of \u201cDolly Parton\u2019s Pirate Voyage\u201d dinner theater in Panama City Beach, Florida.<\/p>\n

\"Old<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Old Deuteronomy\u2019s second in command is the grey tabby tomcat Munkustrap, played by Dalton Bertolone. <\/p>\n

Old Deuteronomy\u2019s second in command is the gray tabby tomcat Munkustrap, played by Dalton Bertolone. He\u2019s not only the show\u2019s narrator, but also serves as the Jellicle tribe\u2019s protector. His numbers include \u201cThe Naming of Cats,\u201d \u201cInvitation to the Jellicle Ball and \u201cThe Awful Battle of the Pekes and the Pollicles.\u201d Bertolone\u2019s stage credits include \u201cThe Addams Family National Tour,\u201d \u201cMadame Clicquot,\u201d \u201cA Chorus Line\u201d (San Francisco Playhouse, Broadway Palm and Sierra Repertory Theatre), \u201cNewsies\u201d and \u201cWest Side Story\u201d (Utah Festival of Opera), and \u201cFootloose Elements!\u201d for Norwegian Cruise Line.<\/p>\n

\"Dalton<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Munkustrap, played by Dalton Bertolone, is the show\u2019s narrator. <\/p>\n

Asparagus, the retired actor, is Grizabella\u2019s counterpart. His focus on past roles and performances draws attention to the passage of time and impermanence of fame. But the Jellicles\u2019 fondness for Gus and his stories underscore the vastly different way society treats aging men compared with aging women. Where Grizabella is excluded from the tribe, Gus is the center of attention, solicitously chaperoned throughout his appearance by Jellylorum.<\/p>\n

\"Frank<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Frank Hughes plays Bustopher Jones, a remarkably fat upper-class cat (a 25-pounder) who is respected by all. <\/p>\n

Frank Hughes plays Gus as well as Bustopher Jones, a remarkably fat upper-class cat (a 25-pounder) who is respected by all. He is described as “the Brummell of cats” due to his immaculate pelt, which resembles a tuxedo and spats. He\u2019s meant as a parody of an Edwardian gentleman of leisure given over to culinary indulgence.<\/p>\n

Hughes was last seen as Lazar Wolfe in \u201cFiddler on the Roof.\u201d Some of his favorite stage roles include Cal in \u201cWaitress,\u201d Poirot in \u201cMurder on the Orient Express,\u201d Chef Louis in \u201cLittle Mermaid,\u201d Cogsworth in \u201cBeauty and the Beast,\u201d Valjean in \u201cLes Miserables,\u201d Pirelli in \u201cSweeney Todd\u201d and Dave in \u201cThe Full Monty.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Jellyorum<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Jellyorum is played by Florida Southern College graduate Giselle Meyers. <\/p>\n

Jellyorum is played by Giselle Meyer. Her character is named after T.S. Eliot\u2019s own cat. In addition to tending to Gus, Jellyorum watches out for the kittens. In the role, Meyer has the opportunity to employ her skills as both a singer and a dancer. Among her musical numbers are \u201cThe Old Gumbie Cat,\u201d \u201cBustopher Jones: The Cat About Town,\u201d \u201cGrizabella: The Glamour Cat\u201d and \u201cGus: The Theatre Cat.\u201d <\/p>\n

\"Giselle<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Giselle Meyer (center) plays the part of Jellylorum, who is named after T.S. Eliot’s own cat. <\/p>\n

Meyer’s prior professional stage credits include Margot (and Brooke\u2019s understudy) in \u201cLegally Blonde\u201d and Elaine in \u201cCrazy for You.\u201d But the Southwest Florida native is also remembered for her performances of the Lady of the Lake in \u201cMonty Python\u2019s Spamalot the Musical\u201d and Fastrada in \u201cPippin\u201d at the Alliance Youth Theatre along with roles in \u201cLegally Blonde Jr.,\u201d \u201cXanadu,\u201d \u201cPeter Pan Jr.,\u201d \u201cHeathers the Musical,\u201d \u201cThoroughly Modern Millie\u201d (Naples Performing Arts Center), \u201cJames and the Giant Peach\u201d (Alliance Youth Theatre) and Lynn Ahrens\u2019 \u201cOnce on This Island.\u201d A product of Oasis and North Fort Myers high schools, Meyers graduated from Florida Southern College in 2024 with her BFA.<\/p>\n

Ava Arkin plays the part of Jennyanydots (and is also Grizabella\u2019s understudy). Jennyanydots, also known as the \u201cOld Gumbie Cat,\u201d is a ginger tabby who spends her days lounging but at night becomes industrious \u2013 teaching the mice and insects to sing and dance. Her maternal character adds a humorous touch to the show. Arkin makes her Broadway Palm debut in the role. Prior credits include \u201cSister Act\u201d (Onstage Swing), the Wicked Witch in \u201cThe Wizard of Oz,\u201d Cyndi Lauper in \u201cWe Will Rock You,\u201d Rita (and Judy understudy) in \u201cWhite Christmas,\u201d Anytime Annie in \u201c42nd Street\u201d and ensemble in \u201cChicago.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

The White Cat, Victoria, is played by Gloria Diem, who is a featured dancer in the musical, opening with a dance solo after ‘The Naming of the Cats’ number. <\/p>\n

The White Cat, Victoria, is played by Gloria Diem, who is a featured dancer in the musical, opening with a dance solo after \u201cThe Naming of the Cats\u201d number. Na\u00efve, shy and beautiful, Victoria is the first character to touch Grizabella. Diem teaches dance locally at Dance Bochette, where she received the majority of her training. She has been featured at Florida Dance Masters and excelled in intensives with Joffrey, BalletMet and United Ballet Theatre.<\/p>\n

\"Gloria<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Gloria Diem teaches dance locally at Dance Bochette, where she received the majority of her training. <\/p>\n

One of the more memorable characters in \u201cCATS\u201d is Mr. Mistoffelees, a black-and-white tuxedo tomcat played by Lucas Dickson. T.S. Eliot\u2019s poem \u201cOld Possum\u2019s Book of Practical Cats\u201d describes Mistoffelees as a mysterious and enigmatic cat who possesses magical powers. In the musical, he wows the other cats with his impressive feats of magic and dance. Mistoffelees is featured in the number \u201cMagical Mr. Mistoffelees,\u201d a high-energy number that showcases Dickson\u2019s showmanship, stagecraft and athleticism.<\/p>\n

\"Caleb<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Caleb Summers (center) makes his Broadway Palm debut in the role of Rum Tum Tugger, a flashy cat who insists on being the center of attention. <\/p>\n

Caleb Summers makes his Broadway Palm debut in the role of Rum Tum Tugger, a flashy cat who insists on being the center of attention. One cool cat, his temperament ranges from clownish to serious. Summers\u2019 songs include \u201cThe Rum Tum Tugger,\u201d \u201cOld Deuteronomy\u201d and \u201cMister Mistoffelees.\u201d Summers\u2019 credits include the national tour of \u201cFrozen,\u201d and, regionally, \u201cAida,\u201d \u201cXanadu\u201d and \u201cElf.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Cassandra<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Cassandra is a snooty, glamorous, stand-offish brown queen. She\u2019s played by Paige Majewski (center), who is making her Broadway Palm debut in the role. <\/p>\n

Cassandra is a snooty, glamorous, stand-offish brown queen. She\u2019s played by Paige Majewski, who is making her Broadway Palm debut in the role. Most recently, she performed as Maggie in a revival of \u201cA Chorus Line.\u201d She received her BA in Theatre and Film Studies from Muhlenberg College in 2024.<\/p>\n

\"Lee<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Lee Twombly and Fiona Mowbray as Tumblebrutus and Demeter. <\/p>\n

Fiona Mowbray plays the part of Demeter, a skittish queen often paired with Tumblebrutus, played by Lee Twombly. Mowbray returns to Broadway Palm after appearing in \u201cSwing!\u201d and \u201cJoseph and the Amazing Technicolor Dreamcoat.\u201d Select credits include the roles of Linda Mason in \u201cHoliday Inn,\u201d Judy Haynes in \u201cWhite Christmas\u201d and Janet Van De Graaff in \u201cThe Drowsy Chaperone.\u201d A graduate of the Sight & Sound Conservatory, Twombly makes his Broadway Palm debut in the role of Tumblebrutus.<\/p>\n

\"Olivia<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Olivia Georgio is Bombalurina, a confident, flirty red queen.<\/p>\n

Olivia Georgio is Bombalurina, a confident, flirty red queen whose musical numbers include \u201cThe Old Gumbie Cat,\u201d \u201cThe Rum Tum Tugger,\u201d \u201cGrizabella: The Glamor Cat\u201d and \u201cMacavity.\u201d Georgio is making her Broadway Palm debut in the role. A recent Boston Conservatory graduate (with a BFA in musical theater), her prior state credits include Serena in \u201cLegally Blonde,\u201d Helene in \u201cSweet Charity\u201d and swing in \u201cA Christmas Carol.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

A recent Boston Conservatory graduate (with a BFA in musical theater), Olivia Georgio is making her Broadway Palm debut in the role of Bombalurina. <\/p>\n

More on the Cape Coral Animal Shelter<\/p>\n

Cape Coral Animal Shelter celebrates its sixth anniversary in March.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe’ve done just over 6,000 adoptions since we opened,\u201d stated Executive Director Liz McCauley. \u201cWe also have an affordable care clinic, veterinary clinic that serves the community, a lot of volunteers and a great community support system that keeps us going every day. We’re very proud of the work we’ve done.\u201d<\/p>\n

It is privately funded, operating strictly on donations.<\/p>\n

\u201cEvery dollar that people donate to us goes back into the care of the animals and their well-being,\u201d McCauley added.<\/p>\n

\"Olivia<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Olivia Georgio meets her Cape Coral Animal Shelter namesake, Bombalurina, during a special rehearsal prior to the show’s opening.<\/p>\n

Focus on Lee County\u2019s cat crisis<\/p>\n

McCauley confessed to being a huge fan of Broadway Palm and Broadway musicals in general.<\/p>\n

\u201cWhen I saw they were doing \u2018CATS,\u2019 I reached out right away and said, we have got to do some kind of partnership. Fortunately, they were all about it, and we’re very happy to put this partnership together to bring awareness about the cat crisis that we have here in our community and across the country, really.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Cast<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Cast of ‘CATS’ meets their namesakes from the Cape Coral Animal Shelter in the lobby of Broadway Palm Dinner Theatre prior to a rehearsal. <\/p>\n

While the shelter places a heavy emphasis on getting its cats and kittens adopted, \u201cat the end of the day, there’s just too many cats out there,\u201d said McCauley. \u201cSo we promote TNVR, which is trap, neuter, vaccinate, and release. We do everything we can to prevent so many unwanted kittens from coming into the community, and we’re a very big part of that at the Cape Coral Animal Shelter.\u201d<\/p>\n

Scores of people feed strays and entire communities of feral cats. But unless they\u2019re spayed and neutered, the feral cat population continues to grow.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf feral and community cats are not spayed and neutered, you’re going to have hundreds of cats in your neighborhood before you even know what happened because that’s how quickly they breed,\u201d McCauley observed, adding that North Port, Lehigh Acres and Bonita Springs already have large numbers of feral and community cats.<\/p>\n

On average, a female cat can produce a litter one to three times a year. Each litter averages four to six kittens. So the increase in the unowned cat population can be exponential.<\/p>\n

For that reason, Cape Coral Animal Shelter has several programs designed to train volunteer trappers. First, they support people who just want to trap feral cats who frequent their homes or neighborhoods.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe loan traps to people, so if you have a cat that you want to try to trap and get it fixed, we can help you with that,\u201d said McCauley.<\/p>\n

There is a small fully refundable deposit on the trap.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf they’re not feral, we try to keep them and find homes for them,\u201d McCauley added. The shelter never returns kittens. Even if they\u2019re skittish at first, they\u2019re easily domesticated and can be adopted out.<\/p>\n

If you do trap an unowned cat, be sure to check its ears.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf you see a cat that has an ear tip, that means it’s already been fixed,\u201d McCauley noted. \u201cSo you can kind of let it go.\u201d<\/p>\n

But there are also programs for anyone interested in trapping strays on an ongoing basis.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe can connect them with some of the people that are expert trappers because it’s not always easy to trap a cat. They are really experts at that and they can help you through that.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Olivia<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

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WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Olivia Georgio, Fiona Mowbray and Paige Majewski interact with kitten from Cape Coral Animal Shelter. <\/p>\n

While trapping may only appeal to a select few, anyone can give a loving home to a cat or kittens. Cape Coral Animal Shelter has initiated several programs to facilitate adoptions.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe do a twofer, which is really nice because kittens like to have playtime with each other and they are often adopted in pairs. So we do a twofer – one adoption fee for two kittens. We also do discounted fees for senior cats and cats that maybe have some medical issues or whatever. So we have a cat for everybody.\u201d<\/p>\n

The shelter also posts pictures of prospective adoptees on its website.<\/p>\n

\u201cAll of the animals that are up for adoption, dogs and cats, are available to view on our website,\u201d said McCauley. \u201cAnd they have some really cute little descriptions there of them. Actually right now we’re naming almost all the cats that are coming in after the characters from \u2018CATS\u2019 and the bio goes along with it. So, that’s been really fun for our team to do that as well.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Shelter does have some older cats and dogs. Since it\u2019s a managed care facility, Cape Coral Animal Shelter never euthanizes an animal for space.<\/p>\n

\u201cRight now, we have a dog that has been with us for two years,\u201d said McCauley. \u201cIt’s getting adopted next week, we hope. And we have had some cats over the years that have stayed with us for six months to a year, just trying to find the right person. And then one day, that person walks in, and they go, \u2018I want that cat.\u2019 And we all just cheer, because we know that it might take a while, but we always manage to find the right family. We always say there’s a lid for every pot.\u201d<\/p>\n

\"Abigail<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

\/<\/p>\n

WGCU Arts Reporter Tom Hall <\/p>\n

Abigail Aldridge nuzzles Cape Coral Animal Shelter namesake Grizabella as Director\/Choreographer Amy McCleary looks on.<\/p>\n

Lost and found<\/p>\n

According to the American Veterinary Medical Association, one in three pets will become lost at some point in their lives.<\/p>\n

While Cape Coral Animal Shelter is a no-kill facility, not all shelters have that luxury and there have been instances where lost pets have been euthanized before their owner could locate them.<\/p>\n

\u201cThere had not been a hold time on cats that were not microchipped,\u201d McCauley noted. \u201cThey changed that not long ago to at least waiting a day.\u201d<\/p>\n

But overpopulation plagues many shelters in Lee County and beyond. In 2024, the Department of Animal Services reported that 751 dogs and 1,426 cats were euthanized, most because there wasn\u2019t enough room in those facilities.<\/p>\n

While it\u2019s better than it was, one day still doesn\u2019t give pet owners much time to find and reunite with a lost cat or dog. McCauley has two suggestions for anyone facing the dilemma of searching for a lost pet.<\/p>\n

\u201cJust don’t just look at the website. Go to the facilities and say, \u2018hey, I lost my cat, this is what it looks like,\u2019 because sometimes pictures don’t look the same.\u201d<\/p>\n

But the danger can be averted by microchipping.<\/p>\n

A pet microchip is a tiny device\u2014about the size grain of rice\u2014that\u2019s implanted just under a pet\u2019s skin. It\u2019s usually placed between the shoulder blades and is considered a permanent form of identification.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe cannot stress enough: microchip your animal. A lot of the problems that you’ve heard lately in the media would not have happened if the animal was microchipped. It’s the very first thing that we do when any animal comes through our door. It’s the very first thing we do in our veterinary clinic. You scan for a microchip.\u201d<\/p>\n

The chip carries a unique ID number that is linked to a database that contains the contact information the pet\u2019s owner provided, including their address and phone number. It\u2019s imperative to keep the information on file up to date.<\/p>\n

\u201cThat’s another big problem. People get a microchip and then they move. They change their phone number. Someone brings an animal in. We scan, great, it has a microchip. And guess what? The phone number is disconnected. So it’s important to keep that up to date. Animals get reunited 95% of the time if there’s a microchip. So important.\u201d
And the cost is minimal, averaging less than $50.<\/p>\n

Support for WGCU\u2019s arts & culture reporting comes from the Estate of Myra Janco Daniels, the Charles M. and Joan R. Taylor Foundation, and Naomi Bloom in loving memory of her husband, Ron Wallace.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"There are an estimated 250,000 feral and community cats on the loose in Lee County on any given…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":176882,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[14],"tags":[209,211,210],"class_list":["post-176881","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-cape-coral","tag-cape-coral","tag-cape-coral-headlines","tag-cape-coral-news"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176881","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=176881"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/176881\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/176882"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=176881"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=176881"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=176881"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}