Hornsby Council crackdown catches and kills 40 feral cats in eight weeks

MORE than 40 feral cats have been caught and killed since Hornsby Council started a trapping program in April to curb the “feline plague”.

Hornsby Shire Council's feral cat trappers have been catching cats all over the shire, but mostly in urban areas. Pic: AAP image/Troy Snook

• Airbnb regulations: what new laws mean for hosts
• Hornsby Hospital Mental Health nurses close beds

MORE than 40 feral cats have been caught since Hornsby Council started a trapping program in April to curb the “feline plague”.

The program was introduced after residents raised concerns.

Cr Nathan Tilbury said the council’s animal control staff worked with its bushland team to select specific wildlife protection sites and properties across the shire for trap locations.

Cat traps have been established in Arcadia, Galston, Normanhurst, Hornsby Heights, Hornsby and Berowra.

A feral cat caught by Hornsby Council officers.

Trap locations are also being assessed for Berowra Waters and Brooklyn.

When a feral cat was caught a veterinarian euthanised it, Cr Tilbury said.

Six kittens have been caught as part of the project and sent to rescue organisations to be rehomed.

‘To date just one domestic microchipped cat has been caught,” he said.

“This was in bushland in Berowra and it was returned to its owner.

“In some locations officers are returning just a few hours after a trap is set and finding a feral cat captured.”

Feral cats trapped by Hornsby Shire Council rangers at Hornsby. Pic: AAP Image/Troy Snook

Cr Tilbury said officers had worked overtime to conduct the project over the past eight weeks and he called on the council to hire an extra officer to catch an additional 200 cats annually.

A Berowra Heights resident has been catching feral cats for more than a year after the death of several native animals on his property.

“After I trap them I take them to any local vet who deals with it from there,” said Joshua, who did not wish to give his surname.

“If it is a domestic cat, I let them out or I take them to the vet and they track down the owners, so I have saved three domestic cats in the process.”

Most feral cats have been found in urban areas. Pic: AAP Image/Troy Snook

Joshua said native birds and possums were the main target of feral cats across Hornsby.

“You can see a reduced bird population across Berowra Heights and we noticed an increased population of feral cats,” he said.

A council spokesman said the program would be reviewed in October.

IN RELATED NEWS