Wednesday, May 6, 2009 - The Morning Star

Enderby council cracks down on feral cats

Richard Rolke
Morning Star Staff

Action is being taken over the growing problem of feral cats in downtown Enderby.

Council gave its blessing Monday to dog control officer Pat Ellis to live trap the wild cats so they can be given to the SPCA.
"There is a lot of them. I see a lot of wild cats around," said Mayor Dee Wejr.

The city will donate $500 to the SPCA and there is the hope that some of them can be adopted out. However, others may be euthanized.

"It's a targeted response so it may work," said Coun. Earl Shipmaker.

Most of the cats are living in an abandoned office building.

"The problem is right behind city hall down the alley," said Wejr. "They are looking for food all the time and on the hunt."

And from that building they are spreading out to the flower beds behind city hall and near the library.

"The feral cats treat these flower beds as their personal bathroom," said Lynne Borhaven, the city's ground maintenance contractor, in a letter to council.

"This is not only unsightly and odorous, but it is adversely affecting the city's investment in its public gardens as it will require fequent replacement of the plants and flowers."

Borhaven is also concerned the cats and the disrupted gardens reflect poorly on the community."The city gardens are prominently located on a key traffic route which is frequented by tourists," she said.

But the problem doesn't appear to stop there.

"People are putting food out for the cats and that may attract rodents like rats," said Wejr.

The city is also considering informing residents of the problems related to feeding feral cats.

Borhaven has suggested that if trapping doesn't occur now, the cat population could get out of hand.

"I am told there is three litters of kittens," she said, adding that they could start breeding in six months.