'AINA HAINA — Twice a week Dene Rawlings feeds the feral felines of 'Aina Haina.

It's a task Rawlings took on six year ago and feels deeply about. But she is now moving to Hilo to help her aging mother, and wants to find a replacement to care for the colony of about 30 cats.

Reaching into the shrubs to locate a plastic container of cat food, Rawlings acknowledged that her efforts are both praised and criticized. "People get kicked out of here for helping the cats," Rawlings said. "I don't want the location known" she said, adding that some critics "would rather the cats starve because they feel they won't breed."

Many caretakers of cat colonies take part in the Hawaiian Humane Society's TNRM — Trap, Neuter, Return and Manage — program, which is designed to help maintain a reasonable life for feral or "unsocialized" cats while helping reduce their population.

OPTION: DEATH

The alternative for these cats is typically death rather than adoption, said Pam Burns, Hawaiian Humane Society president.

"We get thousands of unsocialized cats, and unless there are caregivers out there getting them sterilized and are feeding them in a responsible, clean manner, there's no options for these cats," Burns said. "We have people like her all over the island," she said of Rawlings.

The Hawaiian Humane Society works with more than 500 cat caregivers who dedicate their own time and money to feed and care for cat colonies. Each year, the Humane Society performs about 3,000 sterilization surgeries at no charge for cats in managed colonies. The nonprofit organization dedicates two surgeries a day to sterilizing feral cats, Burns said.

Rawlings last Sunday crawled around the naupaka and placed fresh water in bowls and filled up four dishes with cat food. The food and water are hidden in the shrubbery — areas where the cats can hide. She comes to this location with bottles of water and cat food she purchases herself. Each month she buys about six bags of food.

"I can't bear the thought of leaving them without finding someone to care for them," Rawlings said. "I've adopted four of my feral cats as my house pets. I can't bear to see the cats without food. Every cat deserves food and water. They didn't ask to be born.

"We really need some kind of statewide humane solutions to the feral cat problem."

Rawlings said the population of the colony she cares for has not increased dramatically during her tenure as its caretaker. But when a stray or dumped cat joins the group, she traps and shuttles the cat to be sterilized.

Rawlings, who wants someone who is willing to take her Sunday and Wednesday feeding and watering schedule, said all of the cats in the colony are neutered.

"I certainly hope that someone else takes care of them after I leave," she said. "There are caretakers all over but no organized network. We have to be a bit sneaky, though. It's sad. People really should be grateful that I'm taking care of them.."

Since the Cat Protection Law was enacted in 1995, the number of cats with microchip identification and other ID has increased, which has resulted in more lost cats being reunited with their families. As the total number of cats brought to the Humane Society has declined since 1995, the number of homeless cats in the community remains high.

The Human Society's TNRM program depends on the kindness of cat caregivers. In addition to feedings and seeing to it that colony cats are neutered, caregivers monitor the felines for general health concerns and seek out veterinary care when needed. The size of the colonies gradually diminish as the cats live out their lives without reproducing, according to the Humane Society. "I wish more people would participate," Burns said. "It's a challenge to humanely reduce the cat population."

Reach Suzanne Roig at sroig@honoluluadvertiser.com.