Cat trapping efforts proceed for feral felines

Town Board members are monitoring the Ulster County SPCA program to trap, neuter and release feral cats to reduce the number of nuisance felines in some neighborhoods.

At a meeting Thursday, Supervisor James Quigley said traps were put out May 16.

“We have had communications with a couple of residents who have had traps in their yard and we do know that there were at least two cats trapped in the process,” he said. “I can’t comment on whether they were already neutered.”

The program was authorized for the Fox Run and Sunrise Park neighborhoods earlier this month following a public hearing on a proposed law that would allow cats to be taken to shelters if complaints are received from property owners.

Under the plan there will be about 25 traps set over several weeks. Ulster County SPCA Executive Adam Saunders said it was unclear how severe the problem is because residents have given a range of between 20 to 50 feral cats.

“Any (cats) that were friendly or pregnant would be retained by the SPCA and not re-released back into the area,” he said. “The true ferals would be re-released, but that would be done with the ... monitoring of several colonies.”

The town has agreed to pay $40 for each cat caught during the project.

Officials said they have gotten cooperation from people who are feeding the cats. They noted that two previous efforts by other organizations were unsuccessful because people believed the cats would be euthanized.

Town Board members expect to decide next month on adoption of a law that 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.

Fines under the law would be a $50 fine for a first violation, $150 for a second violation, and $250 for three or more violations.