Feral cats are NOT wild; they are usually the offspring of unsterilised, domestic cats who have been lost or abandoned by their owners. However, without early contact with people, they are fearful of humans and seldom adapt to living as pets.

While feral cats usually hide from people, the noise of fighting and mating and the strong smell caused by unneutered male cats spraying to mark their territory can lead to complaints from the public.

The Feral Cat Unit focuses on the control and management of feral cat colonies, which usually live near food sources linked to hotels, hospitals, prisons or schools.

Traps are either rented to members of the public – who are instructed on proper monitoring, trapping and release procedures – or the unit will dispatch officers who trap the cats and bring them to our Animal Hospital for sterilisation.

The sterilised cats are either returned to their site – or assessed for adoption.

For more information please contact our inspectorate on 021 700 4158/9.