Waddington seeks ordinance to control feral cat population

WADDINGTON — On the corners of Maiden Lane and Fenton Street, there is always a handful of feral cats roaming around. They are a nuisance and the village is trying to do something about it.

"The problem has always remained, the population of felines has grown and descended over time," Mayor Janet M. Otto-Cassada said. "Some of them are diseased, and it's cruel, but without an ordinance, we can't do anything."

A village resident feeds them outside her home, and several skinny cats and kittens usually can be found lurking on the front porch and drinking out of puddles in the street. As many as 10 have been seen at a time, according to village residents.

Village trustees are concerned that the plates of food outside are attracting other wild animals, including raccoons, skunks and foxes, which also can carry diseases and parasites that can be transmitted to pets and children.

Karen L. Thew, who has been in charge of studying cat control ordinances in other towns, said her two dogs nearly got into a fight with one of the cats in front of her daughter in the backyard.

The village hopes to create an ordinance that forces people to spay or neuter their animals as well as immunize them. Though the state says dogs must be licensed and immunized, there are no regulations on the books about cats.

"The (state) Health Department will back us up on an ordinance, if we set one," Mrs. Thew said. "That gives us a little teeth when there's a cat continually coming into your yard. They suggested we come up with an ordinance and then said 'Good luck.'"

The village is in discussions with its attorney, Natasha B. Hill, to find out what kind of ordinance the board can create. Ms. Hill could not be reached for comment.

"If you ask towns all over the area, they're having problems with it," Ms. Otto-Cassada said. "We've got laws that we're looking at, but they're from Pennsylvania and Connecticut. We have to go through our attorney to determine if we have the legal authority to do this."