"With the prison, we were able to remove some of the kittens and the tame cats and find them homes. That reduced the population there," said Sizemore. "By sterilizing the others and keeping a watchful eye out for others who show up to the food bowl — and when they show up, get them fixed — it stops the cycle because it stops the breeding."

Feral cat colonies are in every city and have been found in prisons all over the United States, including Rikers Island in New York.

The American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals began a Trap, Neuter, Return program there, which has successfully reduced the feral cats by half.

"By halving the population of feral cats on Rikers Island, we've not only prevented the exponential increase of more unwanted animals, but we have also established a sustainable model for TNR that provides humane care while gradually reducing the colony's numbers," ASPCA President Ed Sayres said in a statement.

Other prisons have involved the inmates in caring for their feral cat colonies.

"It gives them a sense of responsibility and compassion," said Sizemore. "Some of these big guys are like, 'You'd better not mess with the cats.' They really love them. A lot of us understand how pets give us unconditional love, and it's not something you find in a prison."

At the Utah State Prison, Cox said she encountered hundreds of cats before they began the program. Now, she said there are only dozens left.

Prison cats

In between the Uinta and Olympus facilities, "Abby" and "Walkie Talkie" sun themselves on a chunk of sidewalk.

The cats scurry away the second anyone walks near them. In the yard, there are shelters set up for them. Some were built by inmates working in a building-trade class. The inmates have kept an eye out for the cats' welfare.

"They don't like to see the cats struggling and starving. If they see a cat that's injured, they let us know. We also have officers that let us know," Cox said.

She and others budget money out of their own pockets to buy food. It's just enough food to keep the cats alive, but not enough to bring more to the food dishes. No More Homeless Pets in Utah has provided veterinary services to fix the animals.

While they are technically not allowed to care for them, Cox said she has seen effects the cats have on the inmates.

"It's good for them," she said. "They start caring for something else besides themselves."

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E-mail: bwinslow@desnews.com