People who feed feral or stray cats in Wyndham may think they are doing the right thing, but the act of kindness might be doing more harm than good, according to an environmental educator.
NatureWest nature educator Susie Inglis said the practice can make the containment of cats more difficult.
“Where there are stray cats that live in colonies, it is hard for the council to trap those cats if they are being fed by local residents who think they are doing a good thing,” Ms Inglis said.
She also said that the idea of cats that are impounded being euthanised may be upsetting for people, but roaming cats can pose a huge risk to the native ecosystem.
“I understand this can be a very heated subject, but we also have to think about the local wildlife. Wyndham is semi-urban, there are lots of wild places, there’s wetlands and creeks.
“If a cat is not getting fed by humans, it needs to find a way to feed itself, they will also eat baby birds, frogs, lizards, skinks– they prey on local wildlife.
“They are cute and fluffy but they are also extremely formidable hunters.”
In September, Wyndham council voted on a draft domestic animal plan for the next four years that includes extending the current 10pm-6am cat curfew to 24-hours.
A Wyndham City spokesperson said there are more than 8000 registered cats in the municipality.
“Wyndham City’s cat trapping program targets unowned and semi-owned cats,” the spokesperson said.
“Council also encourages residents not to feed an animal they do not own. Feeding unowned and stray cats can contribute to negative impacts on local wildlife, the spread of disease, and increase the risk of injury or death due to vehicle collisions when cats wander.”
“Council encourages residents, where possible, to take ownership of stray or unowned cats instead of just feeding the problem.”
The spokesperson also said Wyndham prioritises education, outreach and regularly consults about the matter.
“Support is available through education on responsible pet ownership and how to safely confine cats to their property.
“Council also offers assistance with microchipping, registration, and desexing to ensure the wellbeing of the cats.”
