Feral Cats
WILD CATS - STRAY CATS - FERAL CATS
Why should we control Feral Cats?
- Feral cats are animals that are no longer under human control, but live and reproduce in the wild, usually in close association with humans. Humans have neglected these animals, which live exposed to disease, hunger, weather and attack from dogs, humans or other animals. Some of these wild cats may survive for several years before succumbing to starvation, disease, dogs, other animals or motor vehicles. Failure to prevent or control the feral cat population amounts to inhumane treatment of animals.
- Wild cats can harbour and transmit a variety of fatal and non-fatal diseases to domestic cats and other pets. These diseases include rabies, plague, parasitic worms, external parasites such as fleas and mites, feline immunodeficiency virus (FIV), feline leukaemia virus (FeLV), feline distemper or panleukopenia, feline infectious peritonitis (FIP), and various bacterial infections.
- Feral cats can also harbour and transmit fatal and non-fatal diseases to humans. These include rabies, plague, ringworm, internal and external parasites, toxoplasmosis, bartonellosis (formerly known as cat scratch fever), allergies to cat hair, and secondary bacterial infections from cat scratches and bites.
- Stray cats living in close association with humans can damage buildings, contaminate food supplies, and kill birds and other wildlife. Parasites such as fleas are often a problem in areas inhabited by feral cats. They can damage bin bags and leave them open, giving new opportunities to pest birds and rodents.
Wild Cats Access to bin bags
Recommendations for long term wild cat control
- Feral Cat Reduction by capture and removal (feral cats that are identified with incurable diseases should be euthanized)
- Maintaining good health and control of pets:
- Pet cats should be kept indoors.
- Require routine vaccinations for rabies and other feline diseases.
- Require that cats wear a collar and tag when outside.
- Require that cats be neutered
- Require that cats be fed indoors or that owners remove excess food immediately after feeding cats outdoors.
- Food Source Reduction:
- Prohibit the feeding of wild animals on the property
- Make sure wheelie bins are kept closed at all times or else are put in closed bin sheds.
- Habitat Reduction:
- Eliminate wild cat harbourage sites such as brush piles and junk piles.
- Eliminate wild cat access to buildings by sealing openings to the structure.
- After initial sealing or repairs, check weekly for one month to prevent reopening of sealed areas. Make immediate repairs to buildings as new damage or access holes are found.
- Education:
- Encourage compliance by persons not directly involved in animal care and control.
- Provide information about the hazards faced by feral cats and the importance of responsible pet ownership (importance of spaying and neutering pets and keeping them indoors).
CONTROL OPTION INVOLVING THE DSPCA
The DSPCA (Dublin Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals) is a registered charity, established in 1840 to prevent cruelty to animals and is now Ireland's largest animal welfare organisation. The have extensive experience in controlling feral cats in large areas such as hospital grounds or University campus.
Completely removing feral cats from an area often results in new cats from the neighbourhood moving in the "empty" space in a matter of months. On another hand, they noticed that keeping 1 or 2 healthy neutered 'Tom cats' in an area prevents other feral cats from moving into the grounds.
The procedure consists of trapping all cats at one time, having them examined by a veterinary surgeon to decide which cats will be saved / neutered / re-housed / reintroduced / or euthanized (e.g. suffering from injuries or illnesses).
There are situations where the DSPCA will and will not be involved. For enquiries and full details please contact the DSPCA at the address below:
Dublin SPCA
Mount Venus Road,
Rathfarnham,
Dublin 16.
Tel: (01) 499 4700
http://www.dspca.ie
Contact Owl Pest Control or Call 01 452 3680 for more advice and Wild Cats Control Services.
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