The Lloydminster & District SPCA is reminding those who are trapping cats in their yard to do so responsibly. The warmer weather is prompting many cat owners to feel comfortable letting their feline friends out more often, meaning some cats might be spotted in many yards.
Humane cat traps are available through the SPCA starting May 1, weather dependent, and through the city. Peace Officers regularly come by to pick up animals in city traps and take them to the SPCA. If you choose to trap cats yourself, it’s recommended to inform your neighbours beforehand so they can be aware of where their pet may end up. Becca Lawrence of the SPCA also says it’s important to check in with the shelter too, due to their capacity limits.
“We don’t want to you trap this cat, and then you show up and we don’t have room for the cat. It’s always good to line up with us first beforehand just because, like I said, there might be that chance where we don’t have space for that cat to come in,” says Lawrence.
The SPCA has also heard before of cats being trapped and then dumped in a rural setting. Setting traps through the shelter or through the city help ensure that adventurous and stray cats can be handled humanely to ensure there’s space for the cat. Lawrence says that dumping cats off in the country can often make the problem of cat overpopulation even worse.
“Then it becomes a problem for other people. Because most of the time, it ends up being on someone else’s farm, and they have too many already and don’t want to feed another mouth, and they end up calling us anyways.”
It’s illegal to put an animal in distress, so it’s recommended to keep them safe when trapped. Making sure they have food, water and shelter before they reach the SPCA is important. You also cannot injure the cat through trapping and transporting them. The SPCA also advises making yards less inviting for cats with netting or chicken wire, repellents like vinegar or orange peel, or by spraying them when they enter the yard.