Effort to control cats appears to be working

TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. » Residents says there have been fewer feral cats in the Fox Run and Sunrise Park neighborhoods since a trap, neuter and release program was begun to reduce the number of roaming felines.

Town Clerk Suzanne Reavy said at last week’s Town Board meeting that 12 cats were caught during a recent three-week period.

“They’ve trapped 12 cats and they’ve only kept one at the SPCA,” Reavy said. “They did not indicate the 11 were re-released, but that’s my interpretation on it.”

The town authorized the trap program for Fox Run and Sunrise Park in April after a public

hearing on a proposed law that would allow cats to be taken to shelters if complaints are received from property owners.

Adam Saunders, executive

director of the Ulster County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals, suggested comments be solicited from residents of the affected areas to determine if there has been a reduction in problems caused by the stray cats. He noted, though, that “in my conversations with the

residents, virtually all acknowledged fewer cats ... coinciding with the start of this public outcry.”

“The only heavy concentration remains at [a residence] on Warren Street, though we have caught five of the seven [cats] they identified as regulars at their house,” Saunders wrote in

an email.

The Town Board has delayed voting on the proposed sheltering law to determine if the trap and neuter program is effective enough in reducing the feral cat population.

“What I’d like to do with the SPCA is give them a chance to complete their

program, and then we will take and evaluate the results and have a discussion with the board and see where we go,” said town Supervisor James Quigley.

The law would prohibit cat owners or “any person harboring any cat” to allow felines from being vicious, spraying or defecating in

a “way as to cause annoyance,” damage or destruction to property or remain in the town unless vaccinated against rabies.

Fines under the law would be a $50 for a first violation, $150 for a second violation and $250 for the third and subsequent violations.