80 feral cats to be spayed in May

Three organisations have joined forces to tackle feral cat breeding on the South Coast.

Small Paws on the Coast (NPC), Transkei Animal Welfare Initiative (TAWI) and Phoenix Animal Care and Treatment (PACT) have collaborated to run a series of sterilisation days which started in February and ends with a big spayathon in May, where 80 feral cats will be spayed on one weekend.

They will be teaming up to catch the cats with local feeders, Trudie Roets, Marissa Booyse and Antoinette Anderson.

“This will help to put a stop to feral cat breeding in local areas,” says Caroline Botes of Small Paws.

Caroline and Adina Bekker started Small Paws, a non-profit company (NPC), to give feral cats a voice.

She said this sterilisation campaign was started to strategically tackle colonies in Shelly Beach, Uvongo and Margate.

Caroline explained that once these areas are under control, efforts will expand to surrounding areas.

All sterilised cats will receive the rabies vaccine and will have their ear tipped. Ear tipping is a standard practise of most Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programmes because it’s the best method to let everyone know, at a glance, that a cat has gone through a TNR programme.

She thanked Glenda Fawbert ‘From Tassie with Love’ and Mandy Lu from ‘Lets Spay SA’ for sponsoring this campaign, The Midmar Vet Clinic’s Dr Lee Pachonic and Port Edward vet Dr Dave Watson who will be performing the sterilisations.

There is a hot debate around sterilisation versus euthanisation of feral cars. Studies have shown that the most effective way of controlling feral cat populations is through TNR programmes.

Caroline explained that TNR programmes need to reach a minimum sterilisation level of 70%, followed by continued maintenance of colonies where missed/new/dumped cats are then caught and sterilised.

“The euthanisation of feral cat colonies has proven to be far less effective as cats are territorial by nature. Once removed from a territory, a vacuum is created which attracts new cats. These new cats will not be sterilised, perpetuating the problem.”

She further explained that the naturally slow decline of cats in sterilised populations counters the vacuum effect and allows for strategic sterilisation programmes to be run where one colony can be targeted after the other in a close area, allowing TNR programmes to reach their minimum 70% targets.
Should we feed the feral cats?

* By feeding the cats you help to reduce their impact on local wildlife.

* Feeding allows for colonies to be monitored. In this manner, missed and new cats can be targeted for sterilisation and sick and injured animals can be caught and treated.

* Reduces cats breaking into households in search of food.

How will feral cat numbers decrease?
According to Caroline, most feral cat colonies are made up of young cats showing high mortality rates in such colonies, even where cats are fed.

Feral cats face many environmental factors which can affect their health and longevity including parasites, diseases such as snuffles and feline Aids (neither of which are contagious to humans), and predators such as eagles, monkeys, mongoose, leguaans and snakes.

Although feral cats help to control snake populations, they can also fall victim to them.
If you would like to help contribute to the fuel bills for the agencies travelling in, contact Small Paws on the Coast on 076 2655251.

HAVE YOUR SAY

Like the South Coast Herald’s Facebook page, follow us on Twitter and Instagram