HENDRIX CAMPUS CATS

A COMPLETE GUIDE TO THE FURRY CATS SURROUNDING OUR SCHOOL

About eight years ago, Hannah McCarthy ‘18 started a program to help feed and take care of the growing cat population on campus. At that time, there was already a growing cat colony on campus of 27 different cats, and McCarthy applied for Odyssey funding in order to get a TNR (trap, neuter, release) program started . Now the club she started does a lot to help the cats around campus. I spoke to Darryl Manes, a staff member here at Hendrix, about the cats and the club. He told me that he has been taking care of the cats “really since I’ve been here, but I started taking care of them officially when we got approval 8 years ago.” Manes began feeding the cats himself, and since then both he and the club have been feeding and taking care of the campus cats. Current club leader, Cassedy Heise, told me that the club “throws fundraisers to feed the cats and pay their vet bills,” as well as “taking care of any strays that come onto campus.” The club as a whole is very dedicated to the cats on campus, even helping people find their lost cats. That isn’t all they do though, Cassedy also told me “it’s not just limited to cats either, indirectly we also help racoons and squirrels and possums because they love eating the food that’s left over.” The club has some plans for future Odyssey projects they want to pursue, including a program that would have students play with the cats for 30 minutes a day to “reduce their hunting instinct.”

Now, there are at least 23 current cats on campus, and they have become a staple of Hendrix’s identity. In the

JAE HURD | STAFF WRITER

library you can find a book called “Hendrix College Cats” written by a former student that details all of the cats, how approachable they are, and where they all are. The book is filled with visual aids and useful information for anyone looking to learn more about the campus cats. Each cat has their own favorite place to hang out. Oliver, Zoey, Morrisey, and Dust Bunny all tend to be near Raney, meanwhile Ella, Mosley, and others like being near M.C Reynolds. Timothy near Hardin, Blaze and Georgia near Trieshmann.

The cat club is a very active club on campus, and current head Cassedy tells me she wants everyone to know that everyone is welcome to come join them “even if you don’t like cats because it’s a great place to make friends. We have button making sessions…where people can take home the buttons they make and we will still have some left over for sales.” The cats on campus are loved by the student body. They bring a lot of joy and comfort to many students throughout the year. We are pretty lucky to have something as unique as the campus cats. While Hendrix’s official mascot is “The Warriors” a lot of people have come to see the cats as our official unofficial mascot.