Dear Sir,

Some who have commented on my earlier letter have suggested that I blame feral cats for the lost garden pleasures many endure. Nothing could be further from the truth. I agree that irresponsible cat owners who never had their companions spayed or neutered are at fault along with those, local and expat, who cruelly abandon their pets. I further believe that the well-meaning feeding, capture, spay and neuter programme promoted by BFAB to ultimately reduce the number of unwanted cats through sterilisation, has failed. I agree that without BFAB’s intervention the numbers would be higher, but as most commentators note the number of feral cats is growing.

I am grumpy when it comes to the state of my gardens but I’m not a cat hater. My family has had cats for companionship for more than 50 years but it was not until after the feeding station was established that we started to get unwelcome visits from feral cats, spraying and defecating. Our own cat continually chased them away but in the end gave up as he aged. Since he died the numbers of feral cats has multiplied and while our circumstances do not permit getting another from the SPCA, or a dog as one suggested, I do not see why we should endure the presence and negative implications of these feral cats. In the 20 years prior to the explosion in feral cat numbers I do not recall ever seeing cat faecal matter in our garden or had outside furniture and flower pots sprayed by neighbourhood cats. If they did it was so rare as to be inconsequential. Companion cats are, by and large, better behaved. Also, in the 20 years before the feral cats became common on my property I saw precisely two rats, which I could legally kill. I have no such option with feral cats that cause more of a nuisance and more environmental damage. I have never had a problem with mice.

A solution is needed. Feral chickens are culled and so should feral cats. Some love feral chickens and some love feral cats, but I believe the vast majority of the population would rather see both gone. Feral cats need to be managed more effectively and I still believe that capture, perhaps though a quick action knockout drug in the food at the feeding stations, followed by health assessment, adoption where possible following spaying or neutering, or humane euthanasia is the only way to solve this. If anybody has any better ideas on how we can reclaim our gardens, let us all know and perhaps Government will listen to one of us

Still hoping for pleasures rediscovered.

ANONYMOUS