Semi-stray cats a growing problem in SA 100,000 to 200,000 roam from door-to-door for food

The RSPCA is on target to care for a record 1000 cats in a day this summer breeding season – numbers boosted by up to 200,000 SA cats that have no fixed address.

The RSPCA is on target to care for a record 1000 cats in a day this summer breeding season, numbers boosted by up to 200,000 cats that have no fixed address.

Retiring chief executive Paul Stevenson has revealed the city has a hidden population of between 100,000 and 200,000 semi-stray cats, which move from home to home for food but have no traditional owner.

In a final call to action he said RSPCA daily numbers in care had already reached 800, they are expected to peak at a “monumental” 1000 later this summer.

The numbers compare to a maximum daily headcount of 170 dogs and only five years ago the maximum daily cat head count of 500 over the summer breeding season.

Mr Stevenson said compared to the 400,000 cats being owned and cared for by one household, the up to 200,000 semi-stray animals was alarming.

“These unowned cats are the ones out there breeding and lack of food resources is the only thing controlling the population,’’ he said.

RSPCA chief executive Paul Stevenson has revealed the city has a hidden population of between 100,000 and 200,000 semi-stray cats. Picture: File

“The problem is that there are not the same controls on cats as dogs, in terms of cats wandering at large, being detained and impounded.

“The current legislation states that if a cat is microchipped it can’t be seized at all.”

Mr Stevenson said the Dog and Cat Management Act was currently being reviewed with cat management seen as a priority by the RSPCA, and a cat curfew top of the organisation’s list of suggestions.

He said the RSPCA also wanted courts to be able to correct and punish cruelty problems without expensive and time consuming prosecutions being launched.

“But it won’t be fixed overnight and we need a long term program,’’ Mr Stevenson said.

“It took more than 20 years to get dogs under control but they largely are now.”

Mr Stevenson said responsible cat ownership needed to be fostered as it had been with dogs, with many owners changing their view that cats can “do what they want”.

He said control measures would also help the protection of cats, currently the most common species to be rescued from injury by the RSPCA.

Part of a litter of eight cats, which is cared for in one home. Picture: Alison Wynd

“Cats will increasingly be a problem across the city because especially in SA we have been slow to put in legislation to try and manage the problem,’’ he said.

“We introduced compulsory desexing and microchipping in 2018 but there is very little enforcement of that.”

Mr Stevenson has won high praise for his RSPCA work spanning six years of leadership, during which time he planned the $27 million new shelter which will replace the dilapidated Lonsdale facility and for the first time cater for 1000 wildlife patients each year.

Speaking for all councils, the LGA said cat management was “challenging”, especially when owners could not be identified.

“Feedback from council consultation with their local communities in recent years shows increasing support for cat containment, curfew and ‘wandering at large’ laws,’’ a spokeswoman said.

“Penalties aren’t a useful tool for managing feral cats or ‘semi-owned’ cats, which are often fed by people but not microchipped, desexed nor provided with veterinary care.”