STRAY CATS AT ASHBURTON

Press, Volume XCIX, Issue 29101, 13 January 1960, Page 10

STRAY CATS AT ASHBURTON

More Than 50 Shot In Two Days

A number of diseased cats that have been left by their owners to roam the grounds of Tuarangi Home, Ashburton, are causing considerable concern to the master (Mr J. N. Millar). Mr Millar said yesterday that apparently unauthorised persons “dumped" their unwanted cats near the home after dark. Several efforts were made during the last two weeks to keep the growing colony down, but none of the cats could be’caught The district inspector of the Society for Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (Mr J. R. Reeves) was called to assist and after unsuccessful attempts to capture the cats, he decided they would have to be shot.

On the first day, nine female cats about to have kittens were destroyed. The task was so great, however, that two constables of the Ashburton police were called on to assist Mr Reeves the following day. “They proved to be excellent shots and 48 cats were destroyed without suffering,” he said.

All the cats were in a starved and diseased condition,” he said, adding that there were about 30 still left to be destroyed. Mr Millar said the cats were a definite nuisance—most of them living under the floor of the hospital.