SPCA reveals why it can not move Sentrum vir die Bejaardes feral cat colony
“The problem with removing the colony completely is it creates a void for new cats to move in,” said Meg Wilson, NSPCA Public Relations Officer.
Retirement villages are designed to be areas of quiet stillness and reflective peace for those enjoying a lifelong earned rest. Discarded domestic cats forced into feral colonies are synonymous with violent shrieking and untamed behaviour.
Roodepoort Sentrum vir Bejaardes is a retirement village on Robinson Avenue that has become overrun with their resident unwelcome felines. The feral cats are said to get into the units of the elderly residents, spraying their pungent scent in order to mark their territory and fighting through the night. These cats are far from pampered, manicured balls of fluff, but often vicious and hostile prowlers.
The Sentrum has sought to remove the colony and has identified an alternative home for them on a plot in Centurion. Both the Roodepoort Krugersdorp SPCA and the NSPCA have indicated this may not have the desired effect. “The problem with removing the colony completely is it creates a void for new cats to move in,” said Meg Wilson, NSPCA Public Relations Officer.
Other than the nuisance of the roaming cats, the potential for disease is rife. “The problem has become a serious health issue for the elderly folk who live in the centre. There are several zoonotic diseases where cats are implicated,” said Roodepoort Krugersdorp SPCA Manager, Mandy Cattanach. Rabies, Cat Scratch disease and Toxoplasmosis, which the cats get from eating infected prey, are chief among the concerns.
The local SPCA has offered to sterilise and vaccinate the cats as part of the national body’s recommended course of action. “There is a reason why the cats moved there, it’s because there is a food source. This means that if these cats are removed, new cats, or other problem animals will move in. Cats are territorial, therefore by maintaining the health of a small colony and ensuring that they cannot breed is the best, and most sustainable option,” suggested Meg.
The retirement home has however lost patience and will press on with their plan to have the cats relocated to Centurion, one by one if necessary. “We caught three just this morning. They will be sterilised, vaccinated and sent to Centurion,” claimed the centre manager, Jolene Peyper on 14 October.
The health of the residents at the retirement home is paramount and time will tell if nature can be controlled.
