Two members of the national nonprofit Alley Cat Allies were on the ground Thursday at the cat colony south of Fredericksburg to assess the situation. They will be getting some help from a local clinic that offered to spay and neuter the animals. 

Animal Control Director William Tydings, two representatives from Bethesda, MD-based Alley Cat Allies and Kim Kincheloe of the Virginia Kincheloe Spay/Neuter Clinic visited with the property owners and toured the property, Spotsylvania County Sheriff's Maj. Don Thodos said.

In January 2007, the same national nonprofit group visited the property to provide similar help.

"It was a pretty productive meeting," Thodos said. "They (Alley Cat Allies) are going to go back and see what kind of funding they can get to try to help out. They identified quite a few cats that have already been spayed and neutered."

The colony, and the overall feral cat problem in the Fredericksburg area, was highlighted Wednesday in a story on Fredericksburg Patch. Volunteers who are familiar with the general situation described the feral cat population as "beyond imagination" and a "significant problem," but the lack of funding to spay or neuter and vaccinate the animals is a huge barrier to providing help.

Kincheloe said she has offered to spay and neuter any of the cats at her clinic at 452 TV Dr. (off U.S. 1) in Spotsylvania County. She said she did see some healthy animals on the property, as well as kittens that did need medical attention. Thursday had stifling heat with temperatures approaching 100 degrees, and Kincheloe said there was water out for the animals.

“It’s anybody’s guess as to how many creatures there really are," she said. "We are prepared to spay and neuter animals with no appointments on Monday."

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