Feral cat trapping program planned for west coast town

A clampdown on feral felines in one Tasmanian town will involve cats being trapped and then euthanised by the local council.

Feral cats roaming the streets in Queenstown are being targeted by the West Coast Council.

A clampdown on feral felines in one Tasmanian town will involve cats being trapped and then euthanised by the local council.

Queenstown pet owners are warned to collar their cats and keep them confined to their properties so they are not collected in error.

“Council recognises that there has been an ongoing issue with stray and feral cats in Orr St,” the council says.

“To address this, we will be initiating a trapping program, beginning soon, to trap and humanely dispose of feral and stray cats.

“Council officers will be setting traps in the Little Orr St area, these traps may be visible to the public and penalties apply for interference with these traps.”

On the council’s Facebook page, one resident said trapping and killing would not solve the problems with feral cats.

“They will keep happening unless more enforcement is put into pet ownership. There needs to be a plan, and it needs enforcing. No fault of their own and they must die. Sad,” the poster said.

Cat trapping has also been carried out in Circular Head in an operation between the council, Parks and Wildlife and the Cradle Coast Authority.

Under the Cat Management Act 2009, cats found in a prohibited, rural or remote area may be trapped, seized or humanely destroyed.