Cat feeding ban not a solution

As an occasional resident of Imperial County, I am writing to urge the El Centro City Council to revoke the threat of a feeding ban citation. Feeding bans undermine the only successful method of addressing the community cat (also known as feral cat) population: the Trap-Neuter-Return program.

Feeding bans will not decrease the community the community cat problem because community cats do not depend on people feeding them to survive. As scavengers, cats will find food in garbage cans and dumpsters.

Cats are territorial, bonded to their surroundings, and will not leave simply because compassionate people can no longer legally feed them. Ultimately, a feeding ban will result in cats roaming farther to find food and digging through people’s trash. This can lead to an increase in calls to animal control.

If the El Centro City Council seeks to manage the community cat problem, then TNR is the only humane and effective solution. Community cats are generally not socialized to people, and therefore cannot live indoors. During TNR, cats are humanely trapped, spayed or neutered, vaccinated, ear-tipped — which is the universal sign that a cat has been part of the TNR program

— and returned to their outdoor homes.

TNR stabilizes community cat populations, and, over time, colonies decrease in size. It stops the breeding cycle, so no new kittens are born, and eliminates mating behaviors, such as yowling, spraying, roaming and fighting.

Feeding bans do not allow TNR to be carried out. The cats in our community will continue to have kittens, and the community cat population will increase. Please do not punish the good Samaritans in Imperial County who spend their own time and money to carry out TNR and find homes for adoptable kittens. YVONNE RUBIO

El Centro