Need for regulations as feral cat crisis grows in Halifax
Reporter
Wednesday, November 22, 2017, 7:08 PM - Winters in Atlantic Canada are hard, but that's not entirely a bad thing.
When we have easier winters, the cats become more prolific. There's a feral cat issue here in Halifax and experts are saying we need more regulations.
Halifax council recently approved a spay and neuter program to help curb the growing feral cat population.
Patti Green says more could be done citing Vaughn, Ontario as an example. In Vaughn, the city has seen success in curbing the feral cat population with the help of microchip clinics, rabies vaccines and educational campaigns.
"They're still suffering over the winter," Green says of the feral cats in Halifax.
They're still at risk of diseases. You know, getting hit by a car. And we still have the issue of them preying on wildlife."
She adds, "We don't let our dogs outside at 10:00 p.m. and go to bed, but it still happens with cats. We need to be keeping our cats on harnesses if we want to take them for a walk the same as we would our dog. We need to sterilize them, we need to vaccinate them. We need to keep them safe indoors. The outdoors has so many perils for cats."
Green says its hard to get a feral cat population under control because they breed so prolifically.
VIDEO: CAT PERPLEXED BY SUDDEN HAIL STORM: