Fort Saskatchewan Mayor's Comments on Feral Cats Ignite Controversy

Council Passes Motion to Look into Options

Critics Call for Humane Solutions

Fort Saskatchewan Mayor Gale Katchur has sparked controversy with comments he made about feral cats, suggesting they be hunted and killed.

The comments, made during a recent council meeting, have drawn criticism from animal rights activists and residents who argue that there are more humane ways to deal with the feral cat population.

Council has since passed a motion to look into options for dealing with the issue, including trap-neuter-return programs and public education campaigns.

Mayor's Comments Draw Criticism

Mayor Katchur's comments have been widely condemned by animal welfare groups and residents.

The Fort Saskatchewan Animal Rescue Society has called the mayor's comments "disturbing" and urged him to reconsider his position.

Local resident Susan Jones, who has been feeding feral cats in her neighborhood for years, says she was "horrified" by the mayor's comments.

Council Looks into Options

In response to the backlash, council has passed a motion to look into options for dealing with the feral cat population.

The motion, which passed unanimously, calls for administration to report back to council on potential solutions, including trap-neuter-return programs, public education campaigns, and partnerships with animal welfare organizations.

Mayor Katchur has said he is open to considering all options, but he maintains that the feral cat population needs to be controlled.

Trap-Neuter-Return Programs

Trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs are a humane and effective way to control the feral cat population.

Under a TNR program, feral cats are trapped, neutered, vaccinated, and then returned to their outdoor homes.

This helps to reduce the number of feral cats, prevents them from reproducing, and improves their health.

Public Education Campaigns

Public education campaigns can also help to reduce the feral cat population.

These campaigns can teach people about the importance of spaying and neutering their pets, how to humanely trap and transport feral cats, and how to avoid attracting feral cats to their property.

Educating the public can help to create a more humane and compassionate community for both humans and animals.