The Straits Times
STForum Online
July 16, 2009
SPCA clarifies: We do not provide cat traps
I REFER to Tuesday's Forum Online letter, 'Feeding cats is as bad as littering', in particular to the sentence where it is mentioned that the writer borrowed a cat trap from the Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) to trap three cats.
The SPCA would like to clarify that it does not rent out cat traps and has not done so since 2003.
Although there are many people who would love to provide a home for a stray cat, this is not always possible because they may have cats already, or because they are not permitted to keep them. If the HDB policy were to change, the SPCA believes that there would be fewer strays on the street.
The SPCA promotes responsible feeding of stray cats which cannot be regarded as littering, provided the feeder sets the food down in a container and remains there to clean up after the cats have finished.
We would also advise that feeding should be carried out away from public areas in a quiet corner out of consideration for other residents. We salute all individuals and organisations who are helping the animals and taking ownership of the problem despite the obstacles and limited resources.
As much as we are encouraged by the latest statistics showing a gradual decline in the number of stray cats, there is still much need for compassion, empathy and respect for all strays while applying the humane sentiment, to live and let live.
Deirdre Moss (Ms)
Executive Officer
Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
