Randburg feral feeding group appeals for support

A group of residents has joined forces to care for the feral cat population in Randburg. The initiative was sparked by their observation of numerous cats wandering around, visibly in need of food.

Ricky Frobus, one of the dedicated volunteers who started feral feeding in 2004, shared the inspiration behind their efforts. “One day, I was parking my car and I saw three or four very thin cats, and I enquired whether anyone was feeding them. I found out that there wasn’t – then I started feeding them.”
Having been involved in feral feeding for an impressive 20 years, Ricky’s commitment has been a cornerstone of the group’s efforts.

Liesl Cromhout, another key member of the group, shared her journey into feral feeding. “I’ve been feral feeding for four years now. I joined after seeing someone feeding a cat and decided that I also wanted to be part of that.”

The group, currently managing 19 feeding sites, cares for approximately 60–70 cats, yet they are struggling with a shortage of volunteers. With only eight volunteers at the moment, they are actively seeking additional support. “An ideal number would be 15–20 feeders to ensure that each site receives regular attention,” Cromhout said.

With a deeper insight into the challenges the group is facing, she remarked, “With some of our feral feeders moving away, the cats are not getting as much food. So sometimes it’s only twice a week, but we would like to feed them at least three times a week so that they always have food and water.”

Frobus agreed with Cromhout and included the impact of elements on their feeding stations. “At the moment, we are fighting the elements as well. There is one spot where the bees have taken over our containers, so they need to be replaced often.”

Pointing out the broader issue, she explained, “Over the years, we have found the cats have accumulated – especially over Christmas when people buy their children cats. Then they get tired of it and then they just get rid of the cat here. Those cats are often not sterilised, so they have babies, which makes the problem worse.”
Frobus urged the community to rather take their unwanted cats to the SPCA instead of dumping them.

The group coordinator, Bridget Kelly, said that the group tries their best to have the cats sterilised to reduce the number. They do this through an annual trapping campaign and targeted trapping. “Before trapping, food is withheld for about two days to increase the cats’ likelihood of entering traps baited with strong-smelling food. Once trapped, cats are checked for sterilisation, released if already sterilised, and transported to a vet if not,” she explained.

Kelly said that sterilisation is funded by public donations. “Costs range from R590 to R700 per cat, with services primarily provided by a veterinary practice aligned with the NPO Animal Allies and with funding from public donations.”
Once the sterilisation is completed, one of their ears is clipped and the cat is released. The clipping helps them identify which cats have been sterilised.

The group also experiences incidents of vandalism and theft from the feeding sites, further underscoring the importance of community support in their mission.

In an urgent call for support, the group is seeking both volunteers and essential supplies to continue their crucial mission. Donations of 2-litre ice cream containers, kennels, blankets, baby powder, and any other items that can aid in caring for the feral cats are welcomed.

Cromhout encouraged anyone interested in volunteering or contributing to the cause, to contact her on 082 710 1588 for donations and Bridgette on 083 325 0462 for volunteer opportunities.

Related Article: Dogs and cats are microchipped and vaccinated in Randpark Ridge