Community Corner
Feral Cats Problem in Emmaus
As a resident of the Emmaus, I am concerned about the epidemic problem of feral cats which was created by irresponsible people.
Well- fed, female feral cats can produce 2 to 3 litters with 4 to 6 kittens per litter each year. In 6 years, one female cat and her off-springs can produce between 150, 000 to 400,000 cats. . A male cat can father 2500 kittens per year. The average feral cat lives 6 years. Maybe these numbers can be disputed; however the bottom line is its lot of cats and fecal matter. In one year, 30 cats can excrete 21,840 piles of poop. This is an epidemic problem not only here in Emmaus, but across the United States. Let Emmaus set the example of how to resolve this problem. Maybe a number of cats will be euthanized now to resolve this problem, but if you resolve the problem now think of all the unborn feral cats you prevented from being born and contributing to these out of control problems. Think of the suffering these cats endure living outdoors that would be prevented.
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This feral cat problem has created numerous problems in our lovely neighborhood. Many female cats are perpetually pregnant giving birth in homeowners’ boats, sheds, patio furniture, etc. In the middle of the night, cats are howling while battling over mates and causing dogs to bark. Male cats are marking properties with stinky urine smell. The cats are using our yards, gardens and flower beds as litter boxes. The stench is disgusting, let alone the disgust when one steps in it or picks it up with their hands when gardening. Several neighbors take so much pride in their property and they spend many hours grooming and planting in their flower beds and yards. The cats are damaging the efforts of their hard work and damaging their property at the owner’s expense.
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Many people feel that Trap, Neuter and Release is the answer to this problem. This does not resolve the problem of cats damaging properties, using properties as litter boxes, and the health hazard (such as fecal matter contaminating our water, diseases and out of control flea problem). TNR has not been shown to be a reliable way of reducing feral cat populating, because of low implementation rates, inconsistent maintenance and immigration of unaltered cats.
Animal Rights Activists are against euthanizing any of these cats. If Emmaus animal control officer does his job and uphold the laws, I welcome all animal right activists to come to Emmaus and adopt all cats that are trapped, pay to have them neutered or spayed and take the cats to their home and provide a good life for them. Living out on the streets exposes these cats to harsh weather elements, injury, infections and diseases and leaving their fecal matter to drain into our water. Once Emmaus has complete control of the overpopulation of feral cats and enforces the cat laws as they do the dog laws, then the Trap, Neuter and Release Program may work.
Emmaus has excellent dog and cat laws. The dog laws are well enforced the cats are not. One argument from borough council is that feral cats do not have owners, but in their laws, a cat or cats that are “kept or harbored” by any person or persons is the owner. There are many residents who feed and provide shelter for these cats. They own these cats. Another law is “It is unlawful for any owner of any cat to allow or permit such cat to run at large”. Another law is that our animal control officer is allowed to enter onto any property and seize any cats running at large. Another laws states that “any owner of any cat who shall violate the provisions …shall be sentenced to pay a fine of no less than $25 or in excess of $300”. Emmaus has these excellent laws for cats that are not enforced.
You can’t make laws so people make informed intelligent decisions. However you can enforce laws that make people accountable for their irresponsible actions, but the laws must be enforced. Also the animal control officer must take actions to enforce the laws and do his job of trapping these cats.
I would like to see Emmaus be the pioneers in taking the necessary actions to resolve this epidemic problem.
Sherry Meck