Fort Macleod residents are advised to keep their pet cats indoors July 27-30 to avoid them getting caught in a trap, neuter and release program.
The Town of Fort Macleod is hopeful a new internal program to control stray felines will be the cat’s meow.
The first cat round-up in the town’s new trap, neuter and release program will take place July 27-30.
“We will see how it goes and report back to council,” director of community and protective services Liisa Gillingham said.
Gillingham talked about the round-up as part of her report to council during the July 13 meeting at the G.R. Davis Administration Building.
Traps will be placed on the 300 block of 10th Street and the 100 block of 15th street on July 27-30.
Residents who own cats and allow them to be outdoors, are advised to be aware the traps will be out.
People are asked to ensure their cats remain indoors from 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. July 27-30 to avoid being trapped.
Cats caught in the humane traps will be held for at least 12 hours before being transported for veterinary care.
The Town of Fort Macleod’s trap, neuter and release program is similar to one carried out in 2020 by the program the Canadian Animal Task Force.
During that 2020 program the task force trapped 95 cats in Fort Macleod.
The program involved trapping cats, spaying or neutering them, and then returning them to where they were trapped.
The town developed its program in response to numerous complaints about stray cats.
Fort Macleod residents raised concerns about property damage, nuisance complaints, and the health of the stray animals.
The Canadian Animal Task Force is not available to conduct a round-up this year, so council approved an in-house program to be employed this year.
An agency that rescues animals has offered to help the Town of Fort Macleod find homes for the wild cats it traps.
