Editorial: Problem of catastrophic proportion

THERE is a well known saying that it is "raining cats and dogs".

But when I walked out of the house this morning I almost believed it had only been "raining cats".

Attentive readers will recall my recent editorial about the uncared for cat and her three kittens that my wife has been feeding out of a sense of compassion.

No one else is looking after these cats even though we strongly suspect they came from a nearby household which has given up on its responsibilities to these and other cats.

At first, the household under suspicion only had a couple of cats but they were clearly not sterilised for soon there were kittens. Now the kittens have had kittens and the neighbourhood is becoming something of a cat-astrophe.

There are cat fights in the night, rubbish bags are ripped open, and, as reported, hungry feline faces at our back door demanding breakfast.

Why doesn't someone call the SPCA, I hear you thinking.

We have. An officer came, looked at the cats, agreed they appeared to be uncared for, in some cases injured, but would not agree to help round them up.

Instead, the SPCA wants to talk to the possible "owners". Perhaps this is a process that has to be followed but it seems somewhat pointless when the cats in question are clearly not being "owned" by anyone.

The concerning aspect of this little tale, is that it is very likely to be a scenario repeated around Hawke's Bay and the rest of the country.

It has made me dwell on some of the letters and texts we receive from readers on the subject of errant felines (or should I say cats from the homes of errant owners).

My conclusion? I believe New Zealand should legislate along the same lines of some Australian states, requiring owners to keep their cats inside at night.

This requirement insists on responsible ownership and helps protect native birds. Just as importantly, it gives the authorities a reason to intervene when cats have clearly been left to gradually turn feral.