Raised partially in rural New Jersey and partially in a housing project in urban Jersey City, Pat Farrant can trace her passion for animals back to moments in her childhood.

“A nearby farmer used to let me take cats home. They were the only thing I had alive around me other than my mother,” said Farrant, an assistant vice president at ACT.

As an adult now living in Iowa City, Farrant devotes much of her life to caring for and working for the betterment of animals — not just cats. Although, with 14 in her home, it’s safe to say she prefers them.

“Cats are more reasonable to deal with than dogs. Cats want attention, but they are more subtle,” she said.

Farrant is a founding member of the Johnson County Humane Society and is active with many projects.

A feral cat program, which stabilizes camps of stray cats, has drawn a lot of Farrant’s attention.

She said the group identifies places where cats are running wild and attempts to find homes for the animals and get them medical attention.

The program requires a person willing to provide food and shelter for the cats. Her group can help with medical costs and with getting cats spayed or neutered.

“We run into wonderful people who inherit a bad situation and take responsibility. Sometimes a little financial help is all they need,” she said,    noting particularly in rural areas people move into a home to discover a community of cats on their property.

She said that she can see the progress in her service.

“No one was thinking about how to deal with stray animals humanely 15 years ago,” said Farrant,   noting the joy she receives from helping animals.

“Nothing has sustained me like working with animals.”

— Brian Morelli

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