History of the Space Coast Feline Network
The Space Coast Feline Network formally began the day before New Year's 1996 at Kennedy Space Center with the rescue of Mr. No Ears, a beat up old tomcat who had lost both of his ears from years of fighting. Within the first three years, more than 100 cats and kittens were rescued at the Kennedy Space Center (KSC). The origin of these feral cats has been traced many years back to before the commencement of the Space Shuttle program. Over time, the population increased in size.
Until Space Coast Feline Network was formed by concerned KSC workers, the practice at KSC called for sporadic trapping of the cats. The cats were taken to the Humane Society shelter, where, being deemed unadoptable, they were euthanized. This process was not successful in keeping the ever increasing feral population in check.
Based upon extensive research of successful feral cat management in various communities in the United States, Space Coast Feline Network took a different approach. Club members began by successfully finding homes for all of the kittens rescued at KSC, and by caring for the feral adults, who were given living quarters at a temporary site on KSC property. These cats were spayed/neutered and vaccinated. Of the original 100 cats/kittens trapped, 49 were adopted, 21 housed at the site, and the rest fostered by volunteers. Only a few had to be euthanized due to illness or injuries.
Space Coast Feline Network then expanded it's scope to include feral cats within Brevard County, with many volunteers giving time and money to care for, sterilize and vaccinate feral cats colonies in Brevard. To elicit and coordinate support with other agencies and volunteers, a branch of Space Coast Feline Network, was then designated as the Feral Cat Network. With the assistance Brevard County Animal Services and Enforcement, and Alley Cat Allies, the Feral Cat Network began the process or generating a spay/neuter program for ferals.