Council acts on feral felines

More than 30 cats have been removed as part of a programme to tackle a feral cat issue at the council’s Housing for the Elderly units in Ahipara.

The plan was put in place last month by council staff following complaints from residents about the influx of wild cats around their homes.

Council staff met with the tenants to understand the extent of the issue and asked them all to immediately stop feeding cats that do not belong to them.

A contractor was tasked to set humane traps, with any trapped animals being transported to a local vet clinic in Kaitāia where they checked for collars and scanned for microchips. Once confirmed as being feral by the vet, the cats were humanely euthanised.

Tenants of the units were given the opportunity to adopt one cat each and to have them desexed, however none of the residents chose this option.

Council staff are continuing to monitor the situation

The council urges residents who own cats to have them desexed and not to feed strays.