Bronson resident Joe Mahaff urges city action on feral-cat problem, cites health risk

Joe Mahaff, a resident of Roosevelt Street, urged the Bronson City Council to address an ongoing feral- and stray-cat problem he said is affecting his neighborhood. "There are diseases that can be transferred from these sick cats to humans, especially the elderly," Mahaff said, and he pressed the city to consider organized trapping and reduced-cost spay/neuter services.

Mahaff said he contacted a local veterinarian (Dr. Bronson) who indicated she could provide lower-cost sterilization services but that the exact rate would require discussion. He also said attempts to reach animal-control partners have been inconsistent: neighbors reported the county or 911 will not pick up cats and the humane society has been slow to return calls.

Another participant said a clean kitten recently appeared in the neighborhood and residents are trying to find it a home, underscoring the informal care burden local households are assuming.

The comments included offers of outreach help: a speaker said she had spoken with Sally Geer, who runs periodic spay/neuter events, and volunteered to re-establish contact so residents could access those services. The meeting record does not show any formal council action or staff direction during the public comment period; Mahaff asked the city either to set up a committee or otherwise pursue a local response.

The public-comment portion of the meeting concluded with multiple residents reiterating concerns about the animals entering homes and businesses and calling for more reliable connections to low-cost veterinary services.