为猫结扎解决猫患

Zaobao | Jan 15, 2012

为猫结扎解决猫患
胡洁梅

国家发展部去年7月成立跨部门工作小组负责征询公众意见，探讨解决日益受到关注的野猫野狗问题。野猫问题早在上世纪70年代就出现，当时农粮与兽医局为解决居民的困扰，借出猫笼给居民捕捉猫，并将无人认领的猫进行人道毁灭。动物福利组织认为，捕杀并不能有效解决野猫快速繁殖的问题，建议以绝育计划替代。自1999年成立以来就主张以绝育方式控制野猫数量的猫福利协会，号召并津贴义工捕捉野猫，为它进行结扎。本报日前与猫福利协会义工同行，现场了解捕猫是为了救猫的爱心行动。夜幕低垂，一辆汽车开进了友诺士某私人住宅区。林珊蒂（50来岁）从车上取出看似笼子的用具，摆放在路边，动作熟练地开始“猎物” 行动。不到半小时，一只猫咪经不起笼子内食物的诱惑，缓缓走进笼子里。

　　猫笼内的“机关”随即启动，闸门关上，猫咪被困在里头，惊慌地乱跳。

　　只见珊蒂这时拿了块布盖住猫笼，然后像哄孩子般地安抚猫咪说：“放心宝贝，你会没事的。”过了一会儿，猫咪似乎听懂了，不再那么惊惶。因为爱猫　所以“捕猫”

　　到处捕猫的珊蒂其实是爱猫者。她是猫福利协会（Cat Welfare Society）的义工，只要获知哪里出现野猫，就会前去将它们“逮捕 ”，然后送去结扎。

　　对协会义工来说，捕杀是不人道的行为，为野猫结扎才能有效控制它们的数量，从而减少日后的问题。

　　但珊蒂在捕猫时也曾被人误会，以为她在虐待动物而报警。记者日前随行观察珊蒂的捕猫工作，就看到有两名公众上前质问。

　　一名要去溜狗的杨姓居民上前了解情况后没有异议，但让他不能接受的是一些喂猫者的行为，喂食后不清理。他也质疑，把结扎野猫 放回原本的环境，是否能解决问题。

　　珊蒂解释，使用的猫笼安全，没有尖锐部分，不会弄伤猫。她会先在猫笼内铺上一层报纸，让猫更“好走”，之后放一些猫食在里头引猫进入。摆好猫笼后，尽量远离该处，也不盯着野猫看，让它们放下戒心，最终“上钩”。如果捕到的猫已经结扎，珊蒂会马上放它走。结扎过的猫左耳有一小截被切除，作为记号。结扎后的猫一般较温顺，不会乱叫。

　　住在私人住宅的珊蒂会先将捕捉到的猫带回家照顾，隔天才带它到兽医诊所动手术。手术后再将猫带回家照顾一两天，确定它康复了，才在夜里把它们放回它们原来出没的地方，因为那是它们熟悉的家。

与喂猫人合作

　　珊蒂约10年前开始捕猫，有时一个月可捕捉30只，但这样守株待 “猫”的工作需要很多耐心。“一些猫看到同伴被捕后，会变得比较谨慎，较难捕捉。任何声响或动静都可能惊动猫，所以我一般喜欢在深夜或凌晨时分捕猫。”

　　这一晚，她一小时内在友诺士捕捉两只猫后，就没有其他收获，于是转而到麦波申路一带的登纳利巷（Tannery Lane）工业区。珊蒂之前做了功课，知道喂猫者晚上10时30分左右会出现。“我会尽量配合喂猫的时间，因为猫只熟悉喂猫的人，在与喂猫者的配合下，较顺利捕捉猫只。”

　　晚上10时45分左右，喂猫者阿诺德开着汽车出现了。在这一带工作的他说，因为同情这些没人照顾的猫，几乎每晚都来喂猫，他的出现果然引来五只野猫。但它们似乎比较谨慎，徘徊在猫笼外，久久没有入“笼”。这似乎动摇不了珊蒂的决心，从喂猫者那儿知道附近一条小巷最近有野猫出现，她又开车前往那里碰运气。

　　对她而言，能多捉一只猫，就表示日后的问题能少一些。但她明白，不是每个人都能接受以结扎方式来解决问题，尤其是某些族群或宗教信徒。

猫福利协会出钱出力为野猫结扎非营利组织猫福利协会在1999年成立，主张以绝育方式控制野猫数量。猫福利协会副会长刘韵冰指出，捕杀野猫的方式，长远来说，不能有效控制野猫数量，因为它们繁殖得太快，替野猫结扎会更有效。

　　协会之前做的调查显示，中区某六座组屋在2001年曾有20只野猫 出没，义工为那里的野猫进行结扎后，到了2008年，野猫数量减少了六成。在其他有进行绝育计划的社区，过了一段时间，同样可看到野 猫数量的减少。

　　猫福利协会有约100至200名义工，出钱出力为野猫结扎。结扎费介于20元至65元，雌猫的手术费较高。结扎费一般都由义工自行承担。

　 不过义工每捕捉并将猫送去结扎，可通过协会申请津贴（协会成员: 每只20元；非成员：每只10元。每人每月津贴顶限为500元）。

　　协会也出借猫笼，但只借给服务较久的义工，避免被人滥用来乱捉猫。协会的猫笼从美国进口，价格介于120元至200元之间。

　　义工若无法自行捕捉，可通知协会，交由专业捕猫公司代劳。协会的经费靠筹款与捐款活动支持。

动物福利组推行绝育计划

　　一些动物福利组织，如新加坡防止虐待动物协会（SPCA）、 Noah's Ark Cares也推行绝育计划。

　　新加坡防止虐待动物协会每月提供约120份礼券给爱猫的申请者，承担结扎费用。该协会强调，礼券只适用于野猫，不允许任何人利用礼券为家猫进行结扎。该协会也出借猫笼。

农粮局出借猫笼

　　出借猫笼的机构也包括农粮与兽医局。农粮局自上世纪70年代，便开始出借猫笼给受野猫困扰的公众与团体。该局回答本报询问说，近两年平均每个月会借出50至60个猫笼，借用者大多是私人住宅的居民。

　　借猫笼时限是两个星期，时限一到，工作人员会上门取回猫笼，但公众可要求延长期限。公众一旦成功捕捉野猫，得立即通知农粮局，工作人员会上门取走野猫。该局提醒公众不得在星期五、星期六与公共假日前夕捕捉野猫，因为隔天是非工作日。

　　若野猫无法及时在办公时间内交给农粮局处理，应该妥善照顾它，喂它喝水以及避免它遭受日晒雨淋。

无人认领野猫遭人道毁灭

　　农粮局接收猫后，会先检查猫的情况，若它有结扎、微晶片或其他显示曾被饲养，就暂收养一段时间，等待公众前来认领。无人认领的野猫最终将被人道毁灭。农粮局的数据显示，去年共约5100只野猫 被人道毁灭，前年约5400只，2008年约6800只。

　　农粮局偶尔会接到反馈，指有居民将猫笼放在太阳下，担心野猫 的安全。该局接到这些反馈后会跟进了解，提醒居民猫笼正确的使用法。

　　农粮局在1998年曾与动物福利组织与市镇理事会合作，免费为野 猫进行结扎。这项与社区以及市镇会合作的自愿性计划将在2003年之后停止。

　　农粮局目前也与猫福利协会的义工合作推行“野猫绝育试验计划 ”。在私人住宅区加强宣导为猫咪结扎绝育刘韵冰受访时说，虽然公众对猫咪绝育计划的认识已提高，每年向猫福利协会申请津贴的需求增加约两成，但她认为，需要继续在私人住宅区加强教育工作。一些私宅居民利用向农粮局借来的猫笼捕猫，但或许不知道这些猫会被如何处理而将猫搁置一旁，未妥善照顾。协会接获类似投诉后会前去查看，劝请居民将野猫交由猫福利协会处理。

　　“野猫问题非一朝一夕能解决，与其去结束一条生命，倒不如选择较人道的方法。”

　　刘韵冰透露，相较私人住宅区，政府组屋区的公共空间大，比较容易引出野猫，执行绝育计划。

　　协会也与市镇理事会合作，鼓励它们通报野猫问题，让协会处理。义工萧丽娇（32岁，教育工作者）三年前开始与西部的市镇会接洽，一旦区内遇到野猫问题，就会通知刘韵冰，由她或其他义工前往捕 猫，同时教导那里的喂猫者正确的做法，例如喂食后清理干净，不要在停车场或人流量多的地方喂食。

　　在协会未介入前，市镇会接到居民有关野猫出没的投诉后，一般会聘请私人公司捕猫，私人公司捕捉到猫后都会交给农粮局处理。

支持组屋养猫建议

　　据刘韵冰所知，本地至少有10家收留野猫的场所，但由于土地有限，不可能有足够的收容中心安置所有野猫，因此她很支持政府探讨为猫注册、允许组屋养猫的建议。

　　针对忠邦区的喂猫站计划，她透露进展得不错，至今未接获居民负面的反应，但偶尔发现有人将猫弃置在喂猫站，因此她提醒公众，饲养动物应有责任感。

公众看法

杨大顺（55岁）：为野猫结扎总比捕杀来得好，我的顾虑是，如果母 猫被捉走，其实对她的小猫也会造成影响，感觉挺残忍的。

林志强（34岁）：即使是野猫，也是条生命，不该乱捕杀。但我比较不认同的是一些喂猫者的做法，拿食物引来野猫后，没有把地方清理干净就离开。如果把结扎后的野猫送回原处，还是有人会去喂养，若这些人继续不负责任地乱喂，同样会造成居民的困扰。

如何解决野猫问题

●野猫绝育试验计划

农粮局去年7月开始与猫福利协会合作，在三巴旺—义顺、宏茂桥、淡滨尼和马林百列市镇会管理的组屋区内为野猫进行结扎。结扎费用一半由农粮局承担，另一半由协会承担。

●喂猫站

忠邦区的基层和义工，去年10月与关爱动物研究教育协会以及猫福利协会、动物收容所Mutts & Mittens等合作推出的试验计划。目前区内设有约10个喂猫站，平均每三座组屋有一个。这项计划鼓励注册成为喂猫人的居民，只在固定的时间到特定地方喂猫，以保持环境清洁。计划目前还未推广至其他组屋区。

●跨部门工作小组

国家发展部去年7月成立跨部门工作小组，负责探讨野猫问题，征询公众意见。其中建议包括允许居民在组屋单位里养猫。

Source: zaobao.com

xinmsn | July 25, 2011

步步追踪: 本地首个“野猫绝育试验性计划”

Listen to the podcast.

The New Paper | Jun 12, 2011

Bait, lure and trap cats
Amanda Phua

Armed with food, newspapers and a steel cage, they head out to trap cats.

If you see them in action, you may be shocked.

They are professional cat trappers. They trap stray cats for sterilisation, not to be culled.

And they're hired by cat lovers who foot the bill to trap and sterilise the felines.

They also work with the Cat Welfare Society (CWS), which feels that culling is not the way to manage the cat situation. And this time, they may have the support of the government.

Our reporters follow two professional cat trappers and documented their work:

Source: The New Paper

The New Paper | Jun 12, 2011

Residents try to stop cat lovers from trapping strays
Amanda Phua

ARMED with nets and traps, they stalk the neighbourhood cats.

Some residents think they are out to harm the animals and throw water on them. Others call the cops.

But these professional cat trappers, such as Mr Vincent Ng and Miss Rebecca Ho, are just trying to catch the cats to sterilise them.

Miss Ho, 25, said that when the police arrive, they explain this and are usually allowed to continue.

She even has a sign that says: "Cat trapping for sterilisation. Please keep clear."

Mr Ng said residents jump to conclusions. "Sometimes, people throw water on us from upstairs," he said. "If you don't know, come down and ask us."

He and Miss Ho work with the Cat Welfare Society (CWS) and caregivers to catch strays without a tipped ear. A tipped ear indicates that the cat has been sterilised.

Miss Fareena Mehr Omar, 33, the president of CWS, said stray cats could be better managed by sterilisation rather than culling.

About 5,100 cats were put down by the Agri-Food and Veterinary Authority (AVA) last year, and about 5,400 in 2009. In 2008, it was 6,800, reported The Straits Times earlier this month.

Miss Fareena estimated that there are about 60,000 stray cats today, down from 150,000 cats in 1998. National Development Minister Khaw Boon Wan wrote in his blog on June 3 about the war between people bothered by stray cats and those who love and seek to protect them.

His stand: Culling of cats in HDB estates is not the way to go, and AVA needs to review the practice.

Mr Khaw said on his blog: "The right thing is for cat lovers to own the problem, eliminate the nuisance created by irresponsible behaviour, and sterilise the cats to control their population.

Where there are enough cat-lovers out there willing to own this problem, we can avoid culling in those estates."

One constituency is ready to change. The Chong Pang Animal Welfare Programme, which promises to end the culling of cats in the constituency, will be launched by Minister for Law and Foreign Affairs K. Shanmugam on June 18.

Reinstate scheme

CWS said cat owners have rejoiced. And they would like the AVA to reinstate a scheme, terminated in 2003, under which it funded the sterilisation of stray cats.

Miss Fareena explained that the scheme was terminated during the Sars outbreak.

She said the cat trappers are usually accompanied by one or two CWS volunteers.

"CWS has an ecology of about 500 volunteers islandwide who help to maintain the cat population.

"These volunteer cat caregivers manage the area they live in. They sterilise cats, feed responsibly, and bring the sick ones to the vet. It's all done on their own time, and their own money," she said.

Miss Ho, a professional cat trapper with 10 years of experience, said she works almost every night.

A fee is charged for each job, and the caregivers foot the bill for the sterilisations.

According to Ms Fareena, the number of cats sterilised via their scheme stands at 3,200. There might be more though, she added, as that figure indicates only those for which reimbursement has been claimed.

Miss Ho said: "Culling done by the authorities only removes friendly cats from the estate, leaving behind the elusive cats to multiply.

"A trap-neuter-release-management programme run by a responsible caregiver is the solution. The caregivers gain the trust of the cats to make sure every single cat in the area is caught, with the help of the professional cat trapper, to properly control the population and manage reasonable complaints.

"I think the current problem lies with pet cat owners who do not sterilise their cats. When their cats give birth, they dump the kittens."

There are three main methods the professional cat trappers use. They pick up the strays, net them or lure them into a cage with food.

When The New Paper followed Miss Ho and Mr Ng on Thursday night, we observed one wary and pregnant kitty that was so careful and light-footed, the trap door did not close when it stepped on the lever. The trap was reset and it was eventually caught, 30 minutes later.

The cats are sent to the vet for sterilisation and then to a foster home, where they spend two days recovering.

On the third night, they are released back where they were trapped. Mr Ng, who also has 10 years of experience, usually traps 10 to 15 cats a night.

Mrs Freda Lim, 43, a manager, was supportive of the cat sterilisation efforts. But, she also feels that the animals should not be returned to where they were taken from.

She said: "After sterilisation, a home should be found for them. Don't put them back. There are too many wandering cats."

Sterilise, keep cats indoors

THE Cat Welfare Society has these guidelines on how to be a responsible cat owner:

Sterilise your cat

Sterilising prevents not only unwanted pregnancies but undesirable behaviour like caterwauling (for females) and marking (for males). Males are also less aggressive when in heat if they are sterilised.

Keep your cat indoors

Keeping cats indoors prevents them from being lost, stolen, abused, or attacked by other animals. Also, they are healthier and do not cause inconvenience to neighbours.

Provide a cat-safe home

Cats are climbers by nature and many fall out of windows in Singapore. CWS gets an average of three e-mails a month about cats falling from heights.

Some foods and plants that are dangerous to cats are onions, chocolate, and lily flowers. Also, strings and threads, if swallowed by cats, can cause serious internal injuries.

Feed good quality food

A good quality diet will keep your cat healthy and prevent high vet bills. Food should be grain-free, without colouring, sodium or artificial flavouring.

Provide a scratching post

A scratching post prevents your cat from damaging your furniture. There are also anti-scratch sheets that can be used to protect furniture.

Do not declaw a cat as it is similar to amputating the last joint of a cat's "toes" and deprives it of its primary means of defence and escape (by climbing).

Source: AsiaOne

The New Paper | Jun 16, 2011

如何与猫和平共处