This story was printed from TODAYonline

Monday, March 29, 2004

A cat-feeder shares her experiences

In response to Mr Michael Loh's comment, ("Feeding stray cats helps to breed rats", Today, March 25), I would like to share my experiences as a responsible feeder for the past three-and-a-half years.

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The area where I first lived had a lot of unsterilised cats, who were breeding continuously. They have since been sterilised.

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Residents have commented that they have noticed a huge change since the population of the cats has been controlled.

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They know me as a responsible feeder as I sit with the cats until they finish their dinner. I pick everything up afterwards. And, there are no rats in the area.

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People come up and tell me they are impressed that I take the time to do all this. I take advantage of this to educate people at the same time.

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Last year, I moved to the opposite side of the island (without forsaking the cats in the first area) and none of the cats there were sterilised. I fed them and as they began to trust me, I was able to sterilise them. I feed them every other night so that they do not lose their instincts to find food for themselves.

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Initially, there were rats everywhere. Now, the rat population has gone down noticeably.

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I never hide myself when I feed the cats. Instead, I set out to be seen, to be an example to others. I have not yet received any complaints about my activities.

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Indeed, we even have two cats in the building where I stay and the results — the cats keep rodents and other cats away — have made the management happy. They have even asked me to start educating the residents in my building.

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Mrs C. Kennedy