Killing cats not the answer
Dear Cathy,
We need to stop the madness of trapping, neutering and returning feral cats to their original capture site. It is not a sustainable practice of how to deal with these pests. Unlike other wild animals like squirrels, rats, possums and racoons, domestic cats — even feral ones — live long lives, lives of wandering and invading property of those who don’t want them around.
My neighborhood is overrun with captured/ neutered/returned cats, yet somehow, we have a constant supply of kittens, too. These cats fight at night, poop everywhere, brazenly stand their ground against dogs in their own yards, ruin landscaping by digging and kill songbirds.
If we were as overrun with rats, we would be declared a disaster zone and the city would trap and kill the excessive animals. The spelling should be clear on what these animals are: P-E-S-T not P-E-T-S.
Dear Julia,
Your statements are harsh. It’s one thing to be frustrated by your situation, but quite another to suggest killing cats because you consider them pests. Those free-roaming cats didn’t arrive in your neighborhood on their own. They are the result of your neighbors adopting cats and kittens and abandoning them on the street when they no longer want them.
I understand your frustration, though. Based on the behaviors (and kittens) you describe, most of those cats are probably not fixed. Trap-neuterreturn (TNR) is not only a proven model for managing these free-roaming cats, it’s the official policy of the city of San Antonio.
Unfortunately, your cat colony population will continue to multiply unless your neighborhood pulls together to provide TNR fully. TNR is the only humane way to stop the cats from reproducing.
I hope you can educate your neighbors about not abandoning their cats and encouraging others to help take care of the ones who have been forsaken. TNR is the most compassionate way for society to care for these free-roaming felines.
Cats have been our domesticated friends for centuries. We are the ones who have failed them, not the other way around.
Dear Cathy,
In 2012, we adopted a cat from the Humane Society. AbbyGirl was exactly what we wanted: an older cat, not a kitten. She had been declawed, so she was definitely an indoor kitty.
AbbyGirl had been adopted once before and returned because of allergies. Then we adopted her. For the past six years, we have been a happy family, and our little AbbyGirl keeps my husband and me in line. My husband takes shots as he is allergic to cats.
Dear Nancy,
Many animals are returned or taken to animal shelters because of allergies. Kudos to your husband for getting allergy shots so AbbyGirl can remain part of your family. Your husband is a keeper!