Kendall Tinston
Cats are many things to people. A loving companion, a household pet, an allergy, and in some cases an environmental nuisance. With amazing predatory skills, quirky characteristics, and their signature behaviors that melt hearts, they leave an impact.
The new documentary Cat City examines just how deep those impressions lie and the repercussions of stray and feral colonies throughout Chicago. With this, director Ben Kolak has crafted a new type of story. Instead of point blank reaching a determination on if stray and feral cats are an advantage or a pest, the documentary scrutinizes all angles. Trekking across the Windy City, the film follows the individuals and groups behind keeping cat colonies alive and well as well as those who believe they have no place in being free roaming creatures.
TNR, also known as “trap neuter release” is a main character in both this film as well as the story of stray and feral cats. Posed as a fix for cat colonies, the process involves exactly what it stands for: humanely capturing feral cats, neutering or spaying them, tipping their ear for identification of a fixed animal, and then releasing them to where they came. The goal of TNR is to prevent further kittens being introduced into the community. The fact of the matter is that with quick gestation periods and 4-6 kittens per a typical litter, one cat can introduce 30 kittens or more into the world per year. Throughout the film, spectators observe the process of TNR and how much time and emotional effort is put into it. One can feel the frustration of the evasiveness of felines or the excitement when a new cat is captured and the promise of less feral cats and kittens is posed.
The questions of the environment—namely birds—in relation to stray cats is asked and examined by both team cat and team bird. The grim fact is that domestic and feral cats are the largest predator of wild birds, killing a few billion per year. The undeniable damage that this has done to populations of birds, as well as those who observe them, is vast. The film interviews a bird watching group and displays their feelings on watching dwindling communities of their favorite feathered friends. This poses the concern of how to manage such a bold predator without harming the cats themselves, and this is where people struggle to decipher the best route for both cats and birds.
While much of Kolak’s storylines are important and engaging, some areas do feel extraneous. While it feels that Kolak attempts to build the heart of these people behind the story, it also sometimes feels drawn out as viewers follow trailing dialogue or multiple angles of a pursuit of one cat, for example. The plot points are important but its hard not to desire a more concise, structed storyline at moments. Fortunately, the picture visually displays the concrete beauty of Chicago throughout, so even when the content seems dwindling, the angles and frames will maintain attention. Even in some of the areas that lack lush greenery or extravagant architecture are handled with care by the lens, showing the love those behind the picture have for the city.
It will be challenging for those who aren’t partial to cats, or those who are spoiled cat owners, to fully grasp how cats can be seen as damaging creatures. While some interviewees in Cat City gush about their outdoor four legged friends, plenty of discourse in regards to the downsides of outdoor cat colonies occurs, making it an important watch. Whether you adore or abhor cats, Cat City will help you find your stance on the issue, and maybe even inspire you to help solve it. If you’d like to watch the documentary, keep an eye out for screenings in your city.
SCORE: ★★★
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