Trap-Neuter-Return-Manage Workshop

The TNRM workshop was rather fruitful. Dawn shared tips on the the use of the cat trap and more importantly, the role of caregivers in their own housing estate - managing the stray cats in their area so that the cats are not a nuisance to the other residents.

It was nice to be able to meet other caregivers from Woodlands. I am happy to find out that besides doing TNRM, they are also working to seek the cooperation from our town council so that the cats in this area would not be trapped indiscriminately should complaints arise. What the caregivers need the town councils to understand is that by taking cats away (and putting them to sleep) does not solve problems in the long run. Neutering them and feeding them responsibly keeps a cat localised and this in turn helps to keep other cats away, hence effectively keeping the population of cats in check. Taking away the cats, on the other hand, creates a vacuum which nature abhors, so new cats move in, resulting new problems that are in fact nothing new. The diabolical circle turns yet another round, problem is not solved, even more cats get killed and people remains unhappy. Now, the statistics - people love it so let's bring it on - more than 10,000 cats have been killed every year for the past 20 years but face it, we still have a cat "problem" in our hands. I would think it makes more sense to endorse an alternative multi-pronged (wah!) approach this cat "problem" in our society.

It has been emphasised that while people may not like cats and want them to be removed from sight, they do not (necessarily) want the cats killed. What is unfortunate is that people think that when cats that are rounded up and taken away, they are brought to a beautiful cat paradise where they are immaculately cared for and waited upon hand and foot till they grow old and die peacefully in their sleep. Not true. Cats taken away are either (i) euthanised, a short-term non-solution that breaks the hearts of their caregivers or (ii) released in other area where they then become problems to this other area yet again.

Trapping and culling is not effective and there are people who feel uncomfortable with the idea that they are killing cats, however indirectly. We were told that in one instance, a pest control company refused to catch cats as they do not see them as pests. Mighty kind and ethical of them but there was no sweet ending to this case; the contract with this pest control co. was terminated after a year.

What caregivers can do, as adviced, is that besides sterilising and managing cats, they can also work with the TC so that the TC direct cat complaints to caregivers and caregivers in turn work with the complainants to try to resolve the issues. As residents in the same neighbourhood, we would like to keep the other non-cat-loving neighbours happy but at the same time, I would think that similarly as residents, we cat lovers have as much rights to want to live in a environment that we feel comfortable in, i.e. no rampant and regular trapping and culling of cats that are not causing nuisance. At this point of time, I can't quite see myself there to be doing mediation with the TC and the public. I have, however, exchanged numbers with the other care-givers so that I can lend support in sheer presence should they need the strength. My small little contribution in my small little way lah.

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For every complaint made against cats that town councils receive and acted upon, how many grievances of the cat lovers have been voiced and heard? It is plain unfortunate that animal-dislikers seem to get more attention and understanding than people who wants to live in a society where people show kindness and tolerance towards stray cats and dogs (I do have to stop short at vermins - sorry Mr. Rat & family), that, upon sterilisation and management, can co-exist peacefully with us human inhabitants. I mean, that darn cat can't be taking up more than a 60cm square while lying there snoozing on the pavement, can it? And I do shoo cats away when I see them lying atop cars, how can I allow them to be comfortable and enjoying the night breezes when I know that they are going to leave dusty little footprints on the paintwork of gasp, $70,000 worth of metal? The cement floor splattered with dried human spits, littered with junk mails, decorated with used sanitary pads and tissue paper is likely to be considered far more worthy for a lowly cat, but sometimes even that is taken away from them. Animals (with exception of the zoo, but that's tourism, so it's a different story) are just not in the country's numerous economic masterplans.

Rehoming is a tedious, risky and supply-far-exceeds-demand process in sg. If cats can be allowed, or at least tolerated, on our streets (and in our HDB homes!), the cat caring community here would have much, much less headaches in having to constantly find foster homes and boarding facilities for their cats in the at-risk areas.

Anyhow, the workshop did end with good news - that AVA is resuming their support in the stray cat rehabilitation scheme once more, but I can't seem to find any press release on it. No issue, at least now I know that I am not so alone in caring for cats in my community.

For a better tomorrow! =^.^=