One of Manoa's volunteer cat caretakers feeds a pack of stray cats near Campus Center. Some officials, however, say feeding them worsens the problem of feline overpopulation.

In the summer of 1993, stray cats were blamed for a flea problem on the lower campus and Takekawa's department used traps in an attempt to reduce the number of cats.

However, Chapuis said, "The flea business is just a bunch of nonsense." He said the flea problem is greater when cats are kept in an enclosed area because the fleas "go from the cat to the carpet, back and forth."

His cats don't have fleas, he said. He took one to veterinarian Pauline Koreyasu at the Kapalama Pet Hospital and said she was shocked to see a stray cat with no fleas.

Koreyasu said she doesn't recall this incident but said that fleas are an environmental problem with cats as carriers.

If there is a flea problem, she said, "you're going to have to treat the environment," including the fleas and eggs, as well as the carriers.

Even if they do attract fleas, the cats may assist the campus in other ways.

"The rats and the mice are gone long ago and this is because of the cats," Chapuis said.

Freshman Jamie Kasman-Fell echoed Chapuis' sentiments when she said, "Cats are better than rats." Jamie Tanimoto, also a freshman, suggested relocating the cats to Waikiki to help curtail the rat problem there.

Takekawa, however, is skeptical of the cats' rodent disposing quality.

He said he has heard the argument before, but cannot vouch for its validity.

However, feral cats are not only a local issue.

"Even if we trapped all the cats on campus, there would be more cats because there are cats... everywhere," Takekawa said. "Until the problem is dealt with on a wider scale, we're still going to have... problems."

According to a pamphlet printed by the Alley Cat Allies, an organization based in Maryland, one of the most humane solutions for dealing with feral cats is the "trap, sterilize and release" method which keeps them from reproducing.

"We all know they should be spayed and neutered," Chapuis said, "but we all have something else to do besides the cats."

Although the Hawaiian Humane Society sterilizes feral cats free of charge, there are other costs involved, such as transportation and deposits for the traps.

"Money is a tool," Chapuis said. "(If) you have no money, you don't do it. You (also) need the foot soldier (to assist) in the trapping and neutering."

Eve Holt, director of community relations at the Hawaiian Humane Society, echoes Chapuis' thoughts. She said volunteer groups might be able to assist in the trapping and sterilization.

"They would have to commit to long-term care," she said.

Holt also said a training program is available for anyone who is committed to taking care of the cats. Anyone interested can call the Hawaiian Humane Society at 946-2187.

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