WAR ON STRAY CATS

Evening Post, Volume CXVIII, Issue 114, 10 November 1934, Page 11

WAR ON STRAY CATS

"A DEFINITE .MENACE"

LICENSING SUGGESTED

Stray cats in Wellington, are to be subject to war to tho death, according to Mr. B. A. 'Nicol, inspector, of tho Society for Prevention of Crudity to Animals. The number of cats, a'great majority diseased, and almost all of them wild, prowling about backyards of Wellington, at the Wellington Hospital, and even private residences has increased over many, years, said Mr. Nicol to a ."Post" reporter, until now ho Ms' being deluged with rings for assistance ;in the matter of destroying cats or abating the nuisance. .

"The stray cats of the city aro a definito menace, and I think the City Council should do something in the matter," said Mr. Nicol. Ho suggested that it should-be made obligatory for people to pay liceneo fees for cataliopt as pets, andjbe expressed the opinion that fees of Is for neuters, 2s 6d for males, and 10s for feniajps would be in keeping with requirements. Many people exorcised no control over cats, and it was 'common- for pet cats to be left behind when people moved from houses and flats. One result of that was unchecked increase of- cats in many neighbourhoods^

"In England," said Mr. Nicol, /'the Boyal Society for tho .Prevention, of Cruelty 'to Animals shoots between 50,000 and 60,000 Stray- cats annually in London at a depot in Islington. Recently some Chinamen, in Haining Street wore gaoled following convictions for playing, pakapoo.r They left many cats behind them, and it took me, a long while to catch them. They were in a disgusting condition." ,