A new ordinance might help manage feral cats in Springfield Township, N.J., reported Packetonline.com, a division of The Princeton Packet Inc.
Feral cats haven’t been a problem in the farm fields, but they have been a problem in housing communities, Councilman Richard Toone said in a previous statement. Feral cats could potentially carry diseases, such as rabies.
The program, if implemented, would trap, neuter and release feral cats, also known as TNR. Under the proposed plan, the areas where feral cats lived would be baited. Cats would then be trapped and neutered. Basic vaccinations, such as rabies, would also be given. Afterward, the cats would have their ears clipped so people would know which cats have been through the TNR program.
The program would save taxpayers money in Burlington County and Springfield because it would lessen the burden that a lot of animal shelters receive from the overpopulation of these cats, according to Robert Gogats, Burlington County health coordinator. Many of the cats that are brought in have to be put to sleep.
The program has been successful in other Burlington County townships such as Beverly, Tabernacle and Medford, according
to Gogats.
He said that the implementation of this program would be a humane yet practical way to address the problems caused by the feral cat population and could result in a noticeably smaller feral cat population, Packetonline.com reported.