Sunday Times 5 Jul 09;
I refer to recent letters on the stray cat issue.
Stray cats that are sterilised are usually looked after and fed by caregivers in the neighbourhoods who have taken on this role in an effort to reduce the stray cat births.
The Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) started its stray sterilisation voucher scheme in 1991 on a monthly basis, enabling members of the public who ballot successfully for a voucher to take a stray cat they are caring for to a participating veterinary clinic on our list, with SPCA absorbing the cost.
Last year, the SPCA distributed 2,141 vouchers.
Sterilisation, we believe, is a far more humane and effective method to reduce the stray cat population.
With the long-standing rule of cats not permitted to be kept as licensed pets in HDB flats, the problem escalated in past decades because of uncontrolled breeding of the many homeless strays, and owners who kept cats but allowed them to breed or stray, while not being held accountable.
Decades of collecting and culling of cats by the authorities proved to be ineffective because this method did not address the root cause of the problem - uncontrolled breeding of the cats remaining on the streets.
Over the past 18 years, though, with more organisations and members of the community getting involved, sterilisation has become a widely practised alternative to the burgeoning population increase that was evident previously.
The most promising sign that sterilisation does, in fact, work, is that the number of cats taken in by the society in recent years has been steadily decreasing.
In May, we reached an all-time low of 260, compared to over 500 per month when it was at its peak some years ago.
This is also taking into consideration the ceasing of the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority's (AVA) Stray Cat Rehabilitation Scheme in 2003 during the Sars period.
The SPCA would like to urge town councils and the AVA to consider bringing back this excellent programme, which would help reduce the number of stray cats at a faster pace.
As long as the HDB rule on the prohibition of cats remains, the sterilisation of strays needs to be to looked upon as the only effective long-term solution in reducing the stray cat population.
Deirdre Moss (Ms)
Executive Officer
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
Sterilised cats generally cause less trouble
Straits Times Forum 6 Jul 09;
I REFER to last Thursday's letter by Mr Ernest Chua, 'The constant noises they created, the mess from droppings and wanton breeding made life hell for us'.
The Cat Welfare Society agrees with Mr Chua that responsible feeding and sterilisation of community cats are crucial to the harmonious coexistence of cats, caregivers and residents. That is why we advocate the trap-neuter-release-manage (TNRM) method, in which community cats are captured, sterilised and then returned to the community, where caregivers can continue to feed and care for them, as well as manage any issues arising from their presence.
Sterilised cats generally do not caterwaul, tomcats will stop spraying urine to mark their territory, and 'wanton breeding' will be prevented.
All caregivers are also encouraged to feed responsibly at ground level and clear up after the cats have eaten. This should prevent any problems arising from leftover food. Residents who face the same issues that Mr Chua once faced can try using cat repellents such as crushed mothballs and Cat Stop to repel cats from entering private premises.
Mr Chua also mentioned that the cat trap provided by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority 'proved ineffective'. It is actually easier for caregivers to do the trapping as they may understand cat behaviour better. Community cats also recognise familiar faces and are more likely to approach the caregivers. That is why caregivers play an important role for the TNRM method to be effective.
Ang Li Tin
President
Cat Welfare Society
Exasperated resident says
'The constant noises they created, the mess from droppings and wanton breeding made life hell for us.'
Straits Times Forum 6 Jul 09;
MR ERNEST CHUA: 'The culprits behind the act of animal cruelty in Tuesday's report ('Coma-inducing drug found in planted food') were certainly wrong. They not only endangered other animals like dogs and birds, but also created danger for children in the condominium. Be that as it may, we should also consider the problem created by stray cats or irresponsible pet owners. I lived in a house where we were tormented by stray cats at all times of the day and night. The constant noises they created, the mess from their droppings and their wanton breeding made life hell for us. When I complained to the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority, it said it could not help much as I lived in a private estate. It provided me with a cat cage that proved ineffective and we finally moved to a high-floor apartment. I urge the authorities to educate cat lovers to feed cats responsibly and sterilise all cats they feed.'
Free loan of pet traps does not solve problem of strays
Straits Times Forum 8 Jul 09;
THANK YOU, Mr Ernest Chua ('Pet point: Exasperated resident says', July 2) for your suggestion that cats be sterilised and fed responsibly, which are the two pillars for effective stray management.
Your case fully highlights that the free loaning of traps by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) to residents to resolve cat and other animal problems does not work. Removing the cats does not resolve the problem at the root, which is breeding, and more cats will eventually come back to the area. Amateur cat trapping also puts both humans and animals at risk of getting hurt if not done properly.
A final point I would like to make is that placing a trap in the hands of people who do not have a love for cats may result in inhumane treatment of trapped animals.
As the AVA only collects trapped animals during working hours, how are they ensuring that the animals are properly treated until collection, especially over weekends? There is also nothing preventing trappers from disposing animals on their own accord in other estates or even in more unimaginable means.
I would like to appeal to the AVA to work with caregivers to manage and sterilise stray cats in private estates. The AVA can also think about implementing the stray cat sterilisation programme in non-HDB estates to expedite the control of the stray cat population in these estates.
Lau Vun Ping
