City Council Moves to Ban Feeding Feral Cats

In a recent council meeting held on July 1, officials reviewed a proposed ordinance aimed at prohibiting the feeding and sheltering of feral community cats within city limits. This recommendation follows discussions from a previous meeting on June 13, where the park committee initially raised concerns about the growing feral cat population and its impact on local communities.

The proposed ordinance would make it unlawful for individuals to intentionally provide food, water, or shelter to feral cats, although exceptions would be made for licensed animal control officers and participants in authorized trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs. The council is considering various options, including adopting the ordinance as presented, modifying it, or postponing action for further discussion.

During the meeting, council members raised questions regarding the scope of the ordinance. One member suggested narrowing the language to apply specifically to public lands and parks rather than the entire city. This change aims to address concerns about residents feeding feral cats in private backyards, which could lead to neighborhood disputes.

Additionally, the council discussed the future of a contract with a spay and neuter group in Josephine County, although this topic was deemed separate from the current ordinance discussion. No costs are anticipated with the proposed changes, and the council is expected to make a decision soon on how to proceed with the ordinance and related matters.