Charleston, SC - Animal protection agencies are working together to help save feral cats, but could that impact other animals in the area?

 

Feral cats are a growing issue in the Lowcountry as nearly 7,000 felines were picked up by the Charleston Animal Society in 2008.

 

“We’re seeing more cats in the shelter each year with the method we are using now; we’re just euthanizing a lot of these cats unfortunately, which makes everyone sick,” said Charles Karesh Chairman with the Charleston Animal Society.

 

 

Under current law, many captured felines end up euthanized, but animal advocacy groups are teaming up to develop a catch and release program. 

 

“We can trap these animals or citizens can trap these animals, bring them in, they can be spayed or neutered and re-released,” said Karesh.

 

If the proposal eventually becomes law, Karesh says that between 1000 to 1500 felines could be eligible for the program.

 

While many approve of the idea of reducing the feral cat population, some are concerned that the program has negative impacts on other animals

 

“Those cats are detrimental to native wildlife,” said Jeff Mollenhauer, director of bird conservation with Audubon.

 

Mollenhauer is concerned that the cats would overfeed on birds that forage the ground for food like doves, sparrows, and cardinals.

 

”What is happening is you have these cats that are being fed in these colonies, they have plenty of food but they still have all of their instincts,” said Mollenhauer.

 

Plus, Mollenhauer is also concerned that cat colonies may actually grow more in the long run.

 

“Those feral cat populations become a sink for cat populations. People will keep drop off pet cats into the colony, people who don’t want to own their cats anymore,” he said.

 

If passed, the cat catch and release program would be funded by a grant through ASPCA.

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