First, do no harm.
That phrase is most closely associated with the Hippocratic Oath, the pledge that serves as a doctor’s overarching guidance. However, it also applies to many other social interventions. The persistent problem of feral cats, and the danger the many cat colonies pose to endangered species, is a good fit.
The issue is vexing, because effective management of the cat population takes resources and resolve seemingly beyond the capacity of government to achieve.
Plainly, one recent response, the decision of the Hawaii County Council to ban feeding feral or stray animals on county property won’t resolve things by itself: It’s only for county land, and enforcement will present the usual challenges.
But at a minimum, last week’s 6-2 Council vote for the ban sends the right message: Feeding strays is not a kindness, not to humans, the environment generally or even the cats themselves. The ban is a model that the state has adopted for its harbors, and the City and County of Honolulu should do so as well, and for all city-owned property.
Despite the broad wording of Bill 51, cats are at the center of concern on Hawaii island. This is partly because of a high-profile case in which the nene, or endemic Hawaiian geese, were exposed to toxoplasmosis infection from feral cats.
Two years ago, nene near the Waikoloa Resort, attracted by food left by cat colony caretakers, became potential prey for the cats. At least one of the geese was found dead and was examined to reveal toxoplasmosis as the likely cause.
Many opponents of feeding “free-roaming cats” criticize the practice for interfering with natural habits of other species — in this case the nene, which become less wary of humans and natural predators.
Additionally, they argue that feeding locations become destinations for more people to dump unwanted pets or strays, which lead to colony’s population growth. Ultimately, more of the feral animals are threatened by starvation.
The legislation also drew an angry response from many opponents, who testified that those voting for the Bill 51 would draw pushback in the voting booth. One was Nancy Charles-Parker, who told Council members that “we know there are 5,000 to 6,000 people opposed to this.”
So it took some political will to get this measure over the finish line.
Oahu, where the population explosion of feral cats, chickens and other creatures has reached another order of magnitude, is taking another approach. The City and County of Honolulu is partnering with the Hawaiian Humane Society in the control of free-roaming cats, through promoting the adoption of feral kittens to keep them off the streets, and the spay-neuter program known as Feline Fix.
What’s known as the”trap-neuter-return-manage” program is meant to return sterilized cats to the colony that can produce far fewer offspring and shrink in size.
However, many environmental and animal advocacy groups argue that this ultimately doesn’t work.
They maintain that the percentage of cats that must be spayed or neutered must be high — 70%, by some estimates — to have the desired effect.
There is also some state and city support for Popoki Place, a proposed Oahu cat sanctuary, where feral animals could be brought to an enclosed outdoor area where they can be live, aided by volunteer workers. Fundraising is ongoing and a site is being sought (popokiplace.org).
None of this will work, however, unless residents have an attitude adjustment about their own part in this. While the ultimate solution for feral cat colonies is elusive, the least people can do is resolve not to make the problem worse.
Source: The Garden Island