feral cats

A big thank you to Rebecca who sent us the minute of our meeting we already announced last week.

 

Notes of meeting 22 February 2008, Tinker’s Flat

Present: Jason Thomas, Georgina Young, Eddie Duff, Michel Martineau, Fiona Burns, Andrew Darlow, Robert Draper, Arthur March and Rebecca Cairns-Wicks

The aim of the meeting was to discuss the impacts of cats, principally feral cats, on wildlife and consider ways of raising awareness amongst the public about cat behaviour and reducing (or not causing an increase) the feral cat population on the island.

SPCA recognises that neutering all the islands cats is an impossible task and are aware that not all cat owners are being responsible for their cats – e.g. leaving them to fend for themselves when not on island. They are currently looking at the existing legislation regarding animal welfare on the island with the aim of updating and reforming it. There is currently nothing to regulate for the control or care of cats. As SPCA are already working on this it is sensible that they continue to take the lead.

Action:

All those with comments about the existing legislation and what they feel needs to be included in revised legislation to contact Cherie Dillon – (Cherie please you provide a home email address or SPCA blog address so that we can make contact).

Could Cherie, ANRD and PHD provide details of the different laws that apply and need to be considered.

Public Health carry-out cat trapping. This is currently targeted in urban areas as a response to complaints from the public. Cat trapping takes place between 6-10pm but is not very effective because people provide sanctuary for problem cats. It seems that people don’t want cats on their property but also don’t want to see them killed. The only legislation that supports PHD in carrying out their work is the Trespassing Ordinance. PHD would like to be more pro-active rather than responsive. Fiona informed group that the majority of cat predation events on wirebirds were recorded at Man & Horse. PHD would consider trapping at Man & Horse if needed. Fiona/SHNT to advise further on this before action taken.

Education and awareness raising is seen as the first step. In planning a programme it was agreed that we would all work with SPCA, and that it would include promoting the services provided by ANRD, SPCA and PHD. Julie Balchin is the key SPCA member to liaise with about cats.

Cats are also recognised for their beneficial impact of controlling the rodent population. The education and awareness programme is to improve owner behaviour to reduce the nuisance of feral cats and the incidence of feral cats and their impact on wildlife. Any focused small-scale cat control efforts, particularly in urban areas, should consider how the rodent/rabbit population will respond and tackle this at the same time. Future larger scale control programmes will need to consider how to work to bring rodents as well as cats under control.

Fiona has footage of cats on camera taking wirebird eggs and will provide this to SPCA to use in promotional campaigns. Fiona will meet with the Governor to appraise him of her work here over the last 4 months and inform him of plans re education and promotion.

ANRD and PHD to provide information about the numbers of cats neutered, cats trapped each year. More information about the size of the feral cat population would be useful. Fiona to approach Emma Bennett to find out more about her findings of cats at Gill Point. Eddie to forward information about cat scat exercise by the Carpenters.

Fiona and Rebecca to get together to consider what an educational campaign might include.