Feline problem addressed at Mall of the North

Catsnip, a registered non-governmental organisation (NGO) helped put two of 32 reported stray cats at Mall of the North on the road to a better life last Wednesday.
Following the Trap Neuter Release (TNR) programme the two cats were caught and taken to a veterinarian to be tested for feline aids and leukaemia.
By implementing TNR, a non-lethal strategy and educating the community the institution aims to significantly reduce the spread of feline aids and leukaemia and effectively controlling the feral cat population growth.
Irene Schempers, cofounder of Catsnip, said a feral cat is a domestic feline lacking in social skills, as they did not have early contact with people, making them too fearful to be handled or adopted. Kittens of feral cats will become wild in the same way.
She said that after adequate preparation, such as educating the public about the TNR process, colony cats are trapped using humane traps. The trapped cats are then tested for feline aids and leukaemia, and if negative they are vaccinated and spayed or neutered. After recovering from surgery cats are returned to the area where they were trapped and supplied with shelters and food stations. Cats that test positive must be put down as leukaemia and feline aids are hereditary and contagious for other cats, but not dogs or humans.
According to Van Wyk, an non-spayed cat, her mate and offspring can produce up to two litters per year, with 2,8 kittens surviving per litter, totalling 12 per year or 67 in three years or even 11 801 in five years.
A “tipped” ear is the universally-recognised sign of a feral cat that has been spayed or neutered. It is a humane surgical v-shaped incision on the tip of the ear, performed by a licensed veterinarian. It is completely safe and prevents an already spayed or neutered cat the stress of being retrapped.
Sumari de Ridder, General Manager at Mall of the North said unwanted cats are dropped in the field or at shopping centres or left behind when people move. Mall of the North installed a CCTV camera system to make sure this does not happen at the mall.
Van Wyk reported that the two cats caught on Wednesday tested negative and were spayed and released.
For more information contact Schempers on 084 701 4250.

Story and photo: Alet-Elize van Jaarsveld

Featured photo: Irene Schempers and Evette van Wyk, founders of Catsnip and Susan Smith, volunteer and part of the core team with the two cats caught at Mall of the North last Wednesday.