Cat problem needs solution, residents say

TOWN OF ULSTER, N.Y. >> The Town Board is being pressed to adopt strict rules to combat nuisance feral cats.

A proposed law was discussed during Thursday night’s board meeting, which attracted an audience of 31 people, about a dozen of whom spoke.

Several residents said the problem is caused by property owners who feed feral cats, which then make neighboring yards and houses part of their territory.

“The damage that they’re doing to our property is unreal,” said Lori Werner. “They will not live where they’re being fed. They’re living under our decks ... they are peeing and spraying on the foundations.”

Resident Anne Pumilia agreed

town regulations are needed because neighbors are not responding to requests to control the cats.

“I think there needs to be a substantial fine attached to that law ... and it has to be enforced,” she said.

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

The proposed law would prohibit cat owners or “any person harboring any cat” to allow any feline from being vicious, spray or defecate in a “way as to cause annoyance,” cause damage or destruction to property, or remain in the town unless vaccinated against rabies.

Concern was raised at Thursday’s meeting that the proposed law would allow the killing of cats taken from owners by the town’s animal control officer. But Gina Carbonari, vice president of the Ulster County SPCA, said that’s not the intent.

“We ... are looking more toward not going in the direction of a euthanasia policy or feed ban because those have been shown through empirical data to not be methods that are effective in controlling the cat populations,” Carbonari said.

Several people objected to the proposed law, saying they considered regulations regarding cats to be inappropriate.

“I find the cats to be helpful,” resident David Argust said. “Quite frankly, they’ve kept the rodent population down.”

Resident Cheryl McGahan said she has been feeding stray cats but has attempted to control the population.

“I have a group of cats that are neutered and spayed and [have] rabies shots,” she said. “They live up in my yard . ... These cats pretty much stay up in my yard. They wander a little bit, but I have shelters for them .... ”