Feral cat colonies are taking over
Feral cats are cats that live in the wild. These cats are not usually natural inhabitants of the area. This is the case for the feral cat colonies in the Meyersdal area.
ALBERTON – These cat colonies are the products of people who do not take proper care of their pets to ensure that they do not run away when adopted, or when owners move and leave their cats behind. Feral cat colonies have a negative impact on the natural ecosystem.
Two members of the public, Sally Pinto and Charlmaine Pereira, have undertaken a humane way to ensure that the feral cat colonies decrease by trapping, sterilising and releasing the cats. They are able to trap the cats after the cats have become used to be fed in specific areas.
Both these women do the work on their own costs.
Recently there has been a meeting between Sally, Charlmaine, Meyersdal Eco-Estate and the Meyersdal Nature Estate.
The purpose of this meeting was to find a happy medium between preservation of the natural eco system and a humane way of dealing with the feral cats.
Sally and Charlmaine urge the public to do the right thing to ensure that adopted cats do not run away.
If you are no longer able to take care of a cat, please make sure it has a safe home to be relocated to. If you move, do not leave your cat to fend for itself. Take it with you, or find an appropriate home for it.
If you are planning to adopt a cat, make sure that your home is cat friendly. You and the rest of the family adopting the pet should know what the implications and responsibility of your new pet will be. Do research beforehand to see if a cat it the right pet for you.
To ensure that your newly adopted furry friend does not run away, take time to bond with your cat. It is a good idea to create a space where a newly adopted cat can feel safe and get used to its new home.
This can be done by choosing a room that the family does not use too often, closing the doors and windows so that the cat does not run away. Create a haven for the cat in this room by ensuring that there is enough food, water, cat litter and toys. The cat will live there until it is comfortable with its new surroundings.
Your new friend can now slowly be introduced to all the family members, one at a time, as well as the rest of the home.
Make sure that all the doors and windows are closed when the cat is exploring the rest of the home.
The time that a cat should be kept inside is six weeks. Within this time a cat can explore its outside surrounding, with supervision.
The same steps should be taken when moving with your cat.
I don’t mind the Feral cats because they seem to be keeping our mouse and rat issues at bay. I love cats but cannot have them due to the family’s allergy issues. Its great to know that there are people out there who do care about these animals too. They did not ask to be there. Well done ladies !