Capturing Community Cats Can Prevent a Cat-astrophe

From feeding cats to trapping cats. Dedicated cat lovers in Marsiling take on the challenge of cat birth control.

BY: LIM HWEI SHUEAN, THAMIZHENIYAN THAMIZHARASI, ELIZA BINTI RIDZUAN

A petite, soft spoken and unassuming housewife to a family of three resides in Marsiling. She walks around her neighbourhood, winding through the HDB blocks when she goes on errands, fulfilling her duty as a housewife. She observes the sights around her, noticing the many community cats that linger at the void deck.

One would imagine someone demure like her to only observe these cats from a distance, choosing only to mind her own business. However in reality, she carries a kind and tenacious heart, going out of her way to provide food for these cats, and even doing the harsh groundwork of capturing these cats for sterilisation.

Miss Kavitha Dhanabalan is the demure yet tenacious housewife residing in Marsiling, dedicating herself to managing the stray cat population in her estate. She began her journey to help Marsiling’s community cats four to five years ago even before the COVID-19 pandemic. These community cats that she so actively nurtures are familiarly known to Singaporeans as ‘stray cats’.

CAPTURING THE COMMUNITY CATS

Miss Kavitha was born with an innate love for animals. She has loved animals since her younger days and she owns a cat in her current home. She did not contain her love for cats at home, but has spread it to the community cats that she has seen around her neighbourhood. 

Besides just caring for the cats on the surface by feeding them and petting them as people usually do, Miss Kavitha goes the extra mile.

There are many cats in her neighbourhood, and aware that when these cats breed, can cause an overpopulation of cats, Miss Kavitha strives to solve this issue. She does so by catching these cats and sterilising them — which is a process of mutilating the reproductive organs of the cats so that they are unable to reproduce, hence controlling the population of cats.

For cats that are not yet sterilised, Miss Kavitha feeds these cats for seven to ten days to gain trust from the cat. After doing so, she traps the cat with the cage that she has at home and calls the cat welfare services such as Cat Welfare Society (CWS) or Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (SPCA) for assistance to bring them in for sterilisation.

Demonstration of how Miss Kavitha feeds a community cat to build rapport with the cat before bringing it for sterilisation. PHOTO: LIM HWEI SHUEAN

HOW THE STRERILISATION TAKES PLACE 

The work of sterilisation is then passed on to these cat welfare organisations. Once sterilised, these cats are returned to Miss Kavitha places the cats to where she had originally found them.

She practises TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) as per the Cat Welfare Society’s advice to the public.

https://youtu.be/TknmwLPnxVs?si=FtIteeSdM9VmRrR1

Miss Kavitha does not do this alone, she works alongside her neighbour, Mdm Farida to feed the cats and thereafter ‘Trap, Neuter and Return’ these cats.

Miss Kavitha (on the right) catching up with Mdm Farida (on the bottom left) who are involved with feeding and trapping the cats to bring them for neutering. (We have asked them to look in the direction of the cat for the photo because they prefer their faces to remain concealed.) PHOTO: THAMIZHENIYAN THAMIZHARASI

As to how Miss Kavitha and Mdm Farida identify these community cats for sterilisation, she shares her technique. “We check the tips of the ear to see whether it’s cut or not,” explaining that the cut on the tip of the cat’s ear indicates that it has been sterilised.

Hence for community cats without a cut, she is able to identify them with ease to bring them for sterilisation.

Graphic which shows how Miss Kavitha and Mdm Farida identify cats that have been sterilised. PHOTO: THAMIZHENIYAN THAMIZHARASI

However, sterilisation poses a moral dilemma as it involves surgically altering the cat’s reproductive organs which bids farewells to its sexual life. “ Actually, we also don’t like it, but we have no choice; we need to cut. To sterilise and manage the population,” Miss Kavitha and Mdm Farida share. 

The two ladies’ dedication showcases the power of community spirit and compassion for the environment. 

THE ENVIRONMENTAL IMPACTS

SPCA Singapore emphasises the crucial role of sterilisation in mitigating the environmental impact of the stray cat population.

“From the animal welfare perspective, overbreeding leads to overpopulation hence less resources for each cat in the community.” says SPCA in an interview we had with them on how the overbreeding of cats affects the environment.

SPCA added, “The SPCA does receive requests from members of the public to 'remove or relocate stray cats' from their workplace or residential estate. This is usually because the cats are urinating/defecating on their premises.”

SPCA shares a tip: Rubbing vinegar, lemon juice, crushed mothballs, or salt where the cats usually linger around will help discourage loitering as cats dislike these scents. These scents do not harm the cats but help to repel them safely and humanely. 

“There are free-roaming cats at car parks, which can be very dangerous. It can pose significant risk to both the driver and the cat.” Miss Kavitha says. 

The consequences of a collision could be devastating, and it is important we are vigilant of our surroundings and take measures to ensure that such incidents do not take place.

A local Instagram user who runs an account dedicated to Singapore Marsiling cats, “@catsofmars” who keeps track of new cats in Marsiling also emphasised regarding the high risk of accidents. 

They also added on the matter of cats engaging rowdy behaviour. “Cats are natural predators and over breeding can affect the local wildlife, for example birds.” There have been instances where cats beat up pigeons in attempts to hunt for food which may cause public disturbance. 

Moreover, too many cats pose discomfort towards members who are fearful or allergic to animals which impacts community peace. “Unsterilised cats make so much noise. I have seen male cats running after a female cat in hopes of mating” Mdm Farida shares. 

Miss Kavitha highlights a pressing issue: “Some people feed strays out of pity, but without responsibility.”  This well-intentioned yet misguided approach has unintended consequences. 

“When cat lovers don’t clean up leftover cat food, it attracts pigeons,” Miss Kavitha explains. “They eat the leftovers and defecate everywhere, creating an unsanitary environment.”

THE CHALLENGES OF STERILISATION

Miss Kavitha and Mdm Farida dedicate a significant amount of time and effort to look out for the cats in Marsling’s community. They spend at least 1-2 hours each day for cat care.

Their selfless efforts, however, are often met with resistance and misunderstanding from other residents. 

Miss Kavitha and Mdm Farida face resistance from residents who disapprove of their feeding and TNR efforts. 

“Some people get very angry; they shout at us and stomp on the cat food. They tell us to bring our house and feed. But how?”

Moreover, they also face challenges from residents who misunderstood their intentions. “People think we are abusing the cats when we are trapping unsterilised cats,” Miss Kavitha explains. “They do not understand that our goal is to help, not abuse.”

The ladies share that they also at times sustain injuries from the cat biting and scratching during their attempt of trapping. 

A CRY FOR PUBLIC HELP

Despite all the hard work by community feeders & proactive community members such as those in the Marsiling neighbourhood, more action could still be done in order to have the overbreeding issue under control. 

However, there has been recent implementation of new policies under the Cat Management Framework that was rolled out on 1 Sep 2024. Under the framework, comes the Cat Licensing Scheme where pet cat owners must ensure their pets are microchipped and licensed during this two-year transition period. After which, it is mandatory for all pet cats to be microchipped by their owner according to NParks official website. 

With such policies in place, the government hopes to curb the issue of abandoned cats who then become strays. Although even with these actions taking place, SPCA has stated that they are “optimistic that the cat population can be better managed.”

The organisation calls for cat owners to sterilise their pets and to keep them strictly indoors for their own safety. 

“It only takes one unsterilised, abandoned or free-roaming pet cat to restart the breeding cycle.” SPCA comments when asked about addressing the issue of cats overbreeding. 

Thus, they are calling for a more concentrated effort, not by just the public, but also from members of the public who can also do their part. Even with help from the government and organisations like SPCA, more can still be done. 

With help from all Singaporeans, the environment will not be compromised— making it a better place for us and our furry friends. 

Cat welfare society also shares information on how the public themselves can help do TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return) efforts. PHOTO: Cat Welfare Services (CWS)

With compassion and care, transform a stray cat's life through TNR (Trap, Neuter, Return)

1. Trap stray cats using a carrier/cage, seeking professional help for skittish or feral cats.

2. Fast the cat overnight, then bring it to the vet for neutering surgery.

3. Allow 2-3 days' post-op rest (male/female respectively), acknowledging surgery risks.

4. Release the sterilised cat at the exact location and time of capture, minimising disorientation.

"Every cat deserves a chance at a happy life," Miss Kavitha exclaims. 

Join the movement: support TNR efforts in your community for a more compassionate and sustainable environment in Singapore.