Members of The Animal Center and the Spay & Neuter Association of Newtown attended the Connecticut Cares for Cats Conference held recently in Cromwell to find out how communities can bring an end to cat homelessness.

Presented by the Animal Welfare Federation of Connecticut and the Petco Foundation, and sponsored by the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) and other groups, this event brought together experts from around the nation to discuss humane solutions for managing feline overpopulation, including the most successful and humane programs for reducing stray and feral cat populations; innovative public and private spay/neuter programs that can work in any community; life-saving programs that benefit animal control officers; and how to build a grassroots trap-neuter-return movement that has significant long-term benefits to the community.

“It is estimated that there are between 500,000 and one million feral and abandoned cats in Connecticut alone,” said Robin Olson of The Animal Center.

“This is not only a emotional and moral issue, it could also become a public health issue,” she said. “We have to stop [these cats] from reproducing.”

Experts estimate that if 60 to 70 percent of the stray and feral cats are spayed and neutered, the problem could be solved, she said.

More information about this issue can be found on the www.theanimalcenter.org website. A local nonprofit animal welfare organization, the center also provides foster homes for cats and holds adoption days.