Jason Thompson, 34, is executive director at Feral Cat Spay/Neuter Project, a Lynnwood clinic that provides low cost spay and neuter services.
The clinic,4001 198th St. SW, recently altered its 100,000th cat, a year-old female Siamese mix named Bella. The clinic’s annual Spayghetti &No Balls gala was held over the weekend.
Thompson lives with two rescue cats, Dora and Penelope, and his fiancee, Lauren.
What are you wearing?
On a typical day I am wearing jeans, a T-shirt and New Balance sneakers.
Talk about your clinic:
Our mission is to save lives through spay and neuter. We already have more cats in this world than people and unaltered cats are not only adding to this number but increasing overcrowding in shelters. The humane option to dealing with the cat overpopulation problem is spay/neuter. We know that adopted and pet cats can also contribute to the pet overpopulation as well by becoming free-roaming cats or feral.
Surgeries for non-feral cats (pet cats) are $15 for a neuter and $25 for a spay. At the time of surgery, we offer the option to do reduced cost vaccines, parasite treatment and microchipping.
Are dogs allowed?
Not for spays/neuters here, but we have a few office buddies that belong to several staff members.
Why did you choose a career in cats?
I had just moved to the Pacific NW and was in need of a job so I applied for the cattery lead position at the Willamette Humane Society. They took a chance on me. I fell in love with cats because of their varied personalities and unique intelligence. This position also started my career as a defender of cats.
What is the most misunderstood thing about cats?
That they are aloof or all have the same type of personality. Every cat I have met has had a unique personality and I have witnessed many of them change right before my eyes as they have become comfortable with their surroundings. I challenge anyone who thinks they don’t like cats or that all cats are the same to spend an hour in a free roaming room at your local shelter.
Have any interesting cat facts?
Cats can become pregnant as early as 4 months old and the average cat can have three litters in a year if left unaltered. Unlike dogs, cats don’t have regular heat cycles and, in the right environment, can continuously become pregnant right after giving birth. Females can be impregnated by multiple males which is what leads to various types of color patterns within the same litter of kittens.
What is a feral cat?
By definition a feral cat is an untouchable, wild animal. It is common for people to use feral as a term for all cats outside or a cat with an aggressive personality but that is the incorrect use of the term. We use the term free roaming or community cats to describe cats that have access to the outdoors.
People would be shocked to know:
I am allergic to cats.
What’s the craziest or best thing anybody ever said to you?
I get told a lot that I look like George Clooney.
What are three things in your fridge?
Cat food, almond milk and Greek yogurt.
What is your pet peeve?
Probably just drama in general. There are not enough hours in the day to get everything done that needs to get done and getting involved in personal or work drama just gets in the way of getting more important things in life done.
What is your guilty pleasure?
Theo Chocolate.
How can someone get involved with the cat project?
Call 425-673-2287 or go to www.feralcatproject.org.
— Andrea Brown
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