Feral Cats @ Leslie Spit

[Trillian Flummox]

Spotted this small black cat just east of cell one on Saturday. This is the second cat I've seen on the spit in the last four months. I wonder if there is a growing colony out there? Not good news for our little song birds. Sad of course that any cat would end up out there.

[attachment=0:are8gqlh]feralcat.jpg[/attachment:are8gqlh]

[mr.sharp-photo]

you should notify the humane society immediately...although the cat will be put down.
as a cat owner, feral cats make me sad. not sure if i want them at the Spit though

[Trillian Flummox]

Excellent advice! I have now sent an email to the Toronto Humane Society's volunteer program known as "Toronto Street Cats". They in turn work with an organization known as the Toronto Feral Cat TNR Coalition. TNR stands for "Trap-Neuter-Release". Apparently if these organizations can trap the animals, both the Humane Society and the city's Animal Control offer free spay/neuter services. The policy is to then return the cats to their colonies. Sounds like the best hope for the cats, but not the birds. I am sceptical however that anyone would be able to trap a cat on the spit without endangering the other wildlife. The Toronto Conservation Authority is not likely to allow anyone to set traps out there.

[frozenice7885]

no need to notify anyone the local coyotes will make good due with those guys

[Pat Hodgson]

I saw someone on Sunday who I believe was planning to feed cats there - not a good development at all.  Unfortunately did not have time to investigate fully.
I can't see how TNR would be allowed out there, especially the R if not the T.
I saw two different cats - coyotes seem to be falling down on the job.

[TTP Management TRCA]

We're concerned about the cats - and the birds/voles/amphibians - at the Spit too.  We've contacted Toronto Cat Resuce who have agreed to humanely trap and bring these cats into their programs.

If you see someone feeding the cats please let staff know right away (available on weekends on the gate house or trailer).
Questions or concerns please contact us at ttp@trca.on.ca or 416-661-6600 ext. 5770.

[Axeman]

I live in a rural area -- I'm surrounded by the Queen's bush. We get feral cats moving through our property all the time. They'll be around for a few days...or weeks...and then they're gone...moved on...victim of the roads....or eaten....When we moved in, we inherited a mangy white feral cat that lived on our property. The Ghost lasted 5 years -- driving off all newcomers. One day 2 new feral cats shared the Ghost's stand of woods.

I am not a cat person but feral cats fascinate me. Domesticated for 8 thousand years. Turning back to wild in one generation.

[mr.sharp-photo]

i saw a black feral cat there 3 weeks ago on the path that links the west and east shores (the path on the far side of the red bridge). it was slinking around the grass near the water.

guess trapping hasn't worked?

[egret]

very sad indeed
so many of these feral cats

the coyotes
and the owls .. go for them



Egret