GRAAFF-REINET NEWS - More than a year ago the Camdeboo Sterilisation Initiative (CSI) was approached by some of the ladies working at Wolff and Johnstone (W&J) who were concerned about the ever growing feral cat population on their premises.
The cats are well looked after and fed regularly by Diane Geyer and Tiani Marais, huge cat lovers.
But, if you do not implement a TSR (Trap, Sterilize, Release) programme with regards to feral cats, you end up with a population explosion.
Fortunately the ladies did some research and came to hear about the good work of CSI and called them in to assist.
Diane rolled up her sleeves and took on the challenge with passion and with her help, CSI started trapping the colony one by one and delivered them to local vets for sterilisation.
Over the months more than 14 cats were trapped and sterilised of which a healthy number were females - thus a huge breeding cycle was prevented.
A number of young kittens were also caught, fostered and homed.
CSI is still trying to trap the last five difficult customers, but is confident they will outwit them soon.
Working together, CSI and W&J formed a great relationship, and recently the W&J ladies came up with the wonderful idea to approach some of their suppliers who happen to be in the pet food industry. A plea for dog and cat food donations went out on behalf of CSI.
CSI recently received two donations from RCL Foods that will go a long way to assist the CSI animal feeding scheme that Erma Voigt has been running for quite some time in Graaff Reinet. Many dogs and cats rely on these donations for their survival.
The W&J colony has stabilised and the cats are healthy and doing a great job at keeping rat and mice populations under control.
The cat population is virtually under control, and an amicable coexistence prevails between cat and human.
Through education and communication, the ladies at W&J now have a much better understanding of the working dynamics of a feral cat colony and are proud ambassadors for the little guys.
From left are Diane Geyer and Hermie Botha, both of W&J, with Erma Voigt of CSI.
CSI advocates for feral colonies in Graaff- Reinet to be brought under control through a responsible sterilisation programme rather than simply exterminating the cats.
Feral colonies aid in disease control and therefore have a useful function to overall public health.
The presence of a small neutered colony, as opposed to complete eradication, has prevented re-occupation of the territory by unneutered cats.
According to CSI it has been shown time and again that culling alone results in more cats moving into the area.
Contact Greg Kappers of CSI on 082 387 7643 if you have a feral cat colony on your business premises and require assistance in bringing the number of cats under control.
CSI has assisted a number of businesses and organisations in Graaff Reinet with TSR programmes, and every one has had a happy ending.
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