Feral cat population explodes in the Inner West

CLAWS have come out between inner west residents and the council over the number of feral cats roaming around the streets.

Christian Smits with the feral cat he caught in his back yard. Picture: John Appleyard

CLAWS have come out between inner west residents and the council over the number of feral cats roaming around the streets.

Christian Smits, from Tempe, said the area has had a feral cat problem for years, but reckons that over the last two years the population has exploded.

Mr Smits is fed up with the feral cats entering his backyard and killing bird life and said authorities do not want to know about it.

Christian Smits with the Feral cat he caught in his back yard in Tempe. Picture: John Appleyard

Last week he set up a trap in his backyard and managed to catch one of the pests.

“I probably have the biggest yard in my street with lots of plants and bird life, so I think they want to congregate to my backyard,” Mr Smits said.

“I see the feral cats everyday when I’m out walking my dog, I see a dozen or more every morning. I took this one to the RSPCA who agreed to take it but said they wouldn’t accept any more from me.”

Mr Smits first contacted the Inner West Council, which said they could not help him because it was not one of its own traps.

Christian Smits with the Feral cat he caught in his back yard. Picture: John Appleyard

A council spokesman said it had received many reports of cats roaming within the Inner West Council area.

“Unlike dogs, cats are permitted to roam on public and private land,” the spokesman said. “Therefore it is unlawful for any person to ‘catch a cat’.

“Council will only assist with transporting a seized cat when it is satisfied the cat has been seized lawfully,” the spokesman said.

The Feral cat Christian Smits caught in his back yard. Christian says there is an explosion in the feral cat population along the old goods rail lina=e at Tempe which is now filtering into the suburb. Picture: John Appleyard

He said the State Government’s Companion Animal Taskforce group had not indicated that the management of cats under the companion animal’s legislation would change in the near future.

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