The City of Twin Falls is seeing an increase in complaints from citizens about damage caused by feral cats – often as a result of a neighbor or citizen with good intentions who is harboring stray cats.
City Animal Control does not have the resources to herd stray cats. We promise we’re not trying to be cute. However, it does offer the use of live traps that will not harm the cats and can help the City reduce the overall population of feral cats. The traps can be taken to the Twin Falls Animal Shelter where the cat will be safely removed and the trap returned. Cats that are not claimed by owners are made available for adoption, or are euthanized to prevent the spread of disease and overpopulating.
An average cat has 1 to 8 kittens per litter, and 2 to 3 litters per year. A single pair of cats and their kittens can produce as many as 420,000 kittens in just 7 years.
- American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals
The City would like to remind residents that having more than four cats requires a Kennel License. Licensed kennels are required to provide proper containment and care to protect the cats, and owners can be held responsible for damage caused by cats to neighboring properties. The City would also like to remind residents that feral cats not only create unsanitary conditions for residents, but they can also carry diseases that are transmitted to domesticated cats.
“Residents need to know that this is a growing concern and our residents are extremely frustrated with other residents harboring stray cats,” said Sean Standley, City of Twin Falls Code Enforcement Coordinator. “Often we find that someone is sheltering stray cats because they believe it’s the humane thing to do, but it only exacerbates the problem for residents – and even the cats themselves.”
How Can Residents Help Control the Feral Cat Population:
- Spay and neuter your cats
- Do not harbor stray cats, which includes feeding and sheltering feral felines. It sounds inhumane but the consequences of overbreeding are far worse for cats and residents.
- Contain your cats to protect them and to prevent overbreeding. An average cat has 1 to 8 kittens per litter, and 2 to 3 litters per year. A single pair of cats and their kittens can produce as many as 420,000 kittens in just 7 years.
- City of Twin Falls Animal Control provides live small-animal traps at no-cost that residents can use to safely trap stray cats. The resident should take the trap to the Twin Falls Animal Shelter where the cat can be safely removed and the trap returned.
- Twin Falls City Code requires a Kennel License if a resident has more than four cats. Kennels are only permitted in commercial or industrial zones in the City of Twin Falls.