It’s a common occurrence these days in the north – a cat popping into your yard..
Maybe you’ve even started feeding one.. Or a few…
But this isn’t just a stray … it’s feral. And there’s a difference, says Renee Syvret.
“A feral cat is a cat that is on its own, that can possibly live in a colony that doesn’t have an owner, that doesn’t come to people. Feral, meaning wild.”
But these cats don’t belong in the Canadian outdoors, and they actually pose a threat to the local wildlife.
According to the stewardship center of BC, outdoor cats are a serious threat to birds and small animals such as bats, chipmunks, snakes, lizards and rodents.
Roaming domestic and feral cats are the #1 human-related source of bird deaths in Canada.
And that’s where Renee comes in. She’s started Hope for Ferals – a grassroots initiative, aiming to help abandoned feral cats live safer and healthier lives.
“for example, we have a gentleman who’s got cats living under his trailer, and he’s an elderly gentleman. He can’t get to them. So then I had the the idea of building cages because sometimes you can’t trap them. They won’t they won’t be trapped.
The materials for the structure were donated by Timbermart and Renee has also received a donation from NARA to get the operation going.
Reno Michaud volunteered to build the cages.
“I don’t think everybody wants them gone permanently, like, you know, exterminated. It’s not the point. But you know, if they fix, then it’s not so bad. But if they’re not fixed then there’s fights, two cats crying outside at midnight… So like if Renee gets going there, if we can she can fix or catch a few and all that, get them fixed and all that, that’s not so bad. Right? Then it can be released, and there’s no more population. So when Renee asked me to build those. I said, sure, no problem. I said, I’ve got the shop here. I’ve got the tools.”
Now “Hope for Ferals” will meet Saturday, February 7th at the Terrace Library – or those looking to help can contact Renee through the “Hope for Ferals” Facebook Group.