Residents say that feral cats on this street are causing a foul smell of cat poop. Are they exaggerating?

REIGATE, SURREY, UK - NEWS AND COMMENT: The residents of pretty Nutley Lane, Reigate, UK, have been complaining about the all-pervading pong of feral cat poop that wafts down the entire street and they've demanded that something be done about it. They have got their way. Cats Protection have a team of volunteers who are trapping the cats. They'll be sterilized and vaccinated and relocated away from Nutley Lane.

The stench is "occasionally unbearable and environmentally unsound" according to one resident.

Residents say that feral cats on this street are causing a foul smell of cat poop. Are they exaggerating? Photo: Surrey Live.

Although they've said that the number of feral cats has greatly increased only 5 have been seen by one resident who reported that some residents have installed cat deterrents which emit a sound only audible to cats.

Feral cat numbers do increase because they are unneutered which is where TNR volunteers do vital work. There are no TNR volunteers in Reigate apparently. But Cats Protection will do a good job. They are looking for farmers willing to take on feral and semi-feral cats as mousers and barn cats.

Relocating feral cats can be problematic. I think they'll have to relocate them a good distance from Nutley Lane to ensure that they don't go back.

I have a feeling, but no evidence, that one resident or some residents have made a fuss over this and exaggerated the stink because they saw one or two stray cats and wanted them gone asap. 

There are those who genuinely feel that feral cats spread disease and are a nuisance and others who accept them as part of the community, hence the description 'community cats'.

If they've been there for a while someone is probably been feeding them. Feral cats congregate where there is food. 

Source: Surrey Live.

NZ: Law Allows Cat Hoarder to Remain Anonymous

This is an interesting story. It concerns an aspect of cat hoarding I have not covered before. A lady living in Invercargill, New Zealand was in breach of the city by-law by failing to care for a specified, limited number of cats. I don't know the restriction but perhaps we don't need to know because she kept at least 25 cats according to her neighbour because he saw them on the drive. That is too much for any standard house/apartment in a residential area.

The lady was also in breach of the NZ Health Act 1956 in creating a nuisance. She had been charged with keeping too many cats. At the initial stages of criminal proceedings she was allowed to keep her name confidential. I don't know what the law or protocol is in NZ which allows this but it must cover all criminal proceedings under certain proscribed circumstances.

Subsequently, a judge in the case, Michael Turner, ruled that the court could no longer justify suppressing her name. Her name is: Averil Maree Gardiner.

She appealed the decision but it was obviously a misplaced appeal because her name was, at that time, in the public domain and you can't put it back into the "anonymous box" once it is out. She withdrew her appeal.

I understand the driving force in going too far in cat rescue but a rescuer must know her limits. To fail to do so puts the person at risk of neighbour disputes and criminal charges. More important than both of these acute problems is that it ultimately hurts the cats because the rescuer can no longer cope, neglects cats and the cats suffer major health problems and worse.

The story.