Local businesses lend a helping hand to cat problem

TWO businesses in Springfield Park have taken on the feral cat problem with open arms. Instead of chasing them away, Sean Flanagan (Flanagan’s Panel Beaters) and Monica de Kleyn (Concorde Panel Beaters) have been feeding and helping to get the cats neutered and spayed.

They are also hoping other businesses in the area will follow suit and help the situation. Sean, who has worked in the area for more than eight years, said the population of feral cats in the area has exploded in the last few years.

“I’m an animal lover and I’ve seen first-hand how bad the feral cat problem can get. So many of the cats are left with horrific injuries and maimed body parts because of traps laid down for them. My wife and I decided that in order to help the problem we needed to manage it. We’ve been feeding about eight cats who regularly come into the yard here on Aloefield Crescent, and we’ve even rescued and re-homed a litter,” the Durban North resident explained.

His wife, Taryn, said the experience, besides being rewarding, has also given the family a pet.

“From the litter we rescued we decided to keep one of the cats, and named him Thomas. He is more like a dog to be honest; he follows us everywhere. He is so chilled and always looking for love.

“The situation with feral cats that aren’t sterilised is absolutely terrible. The amount of work to help find a solution can be overwhelming, which is why we’re hoping other businesses in the area will also help.

“There are some amazing groups, such as the SPCA and Feral Cat Rescue, which are always willing to help; but the problem can also be helped if businesses in the area helped out too. Feral cats are no different from domestic cats. They aren’t a different breed of cat. The only difference is that they are kittens or pregnant female cats that have been dumped or abandoned by their owners and have been left to fend for themselves. It’s a man-made problem,” Taryn said.

Monica de Kleyn concurred with Taryn, saying she has fed a number of cats at their business who were tame and just wanted to be loved.

“People think about ‘feral cats’ and think they are mangy, wild and unruly. But that couldn’t be further from the truth. So many of the cats we feed have become domesticated. The way to help the problem is to help manage it, and we are trying to do just that,” Monica said.