Laurel Cat Debate Rages

Laurel Patch readers took to the comment section last week on our story about the growing cat population on the streets of Laurel.

Advocates are calling for , which now provides for catching and euthanizing cats. Some residents prefer having cats neutered after they are caught as a way of solving the over-population problem.

During last night’s Laurel Council meeting, Mayor Craig Moe acknowledged the city’s cat population problem and said he was also seeking a change to the policy, within months.

Internationally, cities such as Beijing also have struggled with the cat population. The population of stray cats in Beijing is estimated to be as high as 5 million.

While the city of Beijing did sink resources into removing cats during the 2008 Summer Olympics, the population is reportedly on the rise again.

Locally, readers have mixed reaction over the kill-or-neuter debate.

“I think the stray cat problem is being exaggerated. I've seen lots of communities with a far greater problem than Laurel has,” said reader .

Others said they wanted to see an end to “trap and kill.”

“Trap-and-kill doesn't really work because it doesn't address the source of the problem: reproducing cats. People somehow think they can catch and kill all the cats and voila! No more problem,” said reader .

“But then six months later you're right back where you started. The only reasonable solution is TNR (trap-neuter-return), but that means dedication and long-term care. Most people can't handle that so they just try to make up a bunch of reasons to kill cats. But if you don't stem the problem at its source, it will just keep happening. Educate people about spay/neuter, and promote TNR!” Glazier said.

Some readers said the problem should fall on pet owners.

“The problem of the over population of stray cats (and dogs) can best be handled by pet owners having their pets spayed or neutered so as to not inadvertently be contributing to the problem.,” said one reader. “That, in combination with a rational consistent, and comprehensive implementation of TNR would go far towards alleviating this problem….”