Bird lovers fight cat plan

The Foster City Parks and Recreation Committee will hear a presentation from the Homeless Cat Network today recommending central feeding stations and a trap and release program to control the cats.

The Bayshore is home to a number of endangered species that live in the marsh. Recently, there was a burrowing owl left along the Bayshore who lived in the piles of rocks during the winter. This bird was pushed out to a new location by the threat of the cats, said Smith.

Smith said asking the people who feed the cats to stop or simply spaying or neutering them is not enough. The cats should be relocated to a different location where they don't pose a threat to the wildlife along the Bayshore, she added. However, she said finding a new location is something the city should figure out.

"If it were a pack of feral dogs out there, do you think the city would tolerate that?" said Smith.

At this point, the city hasn't done anything to control the growing cat colony, said the Director of Parks and Recreation Kevin Miller.

The colony is estimated to be between 50 and 60 cats, but some have even put the number as high as 300. The cats are fed daily by about six devoted cat lovers. The cat feeders leave large bags of dry food and dozens of cans of wet food on the rocks.

Today's presentation will lay out a plan from the Homeless Cat Network to schedule these feedings and set up central food stations. By controlling where the cats are fed, the HCN can keep better tabs on the cats and guarantee the food won't spoil in the sun. By controlling when the cats are fed, the HCN can set traps when cats are hungry and run a better chance of catching them. Once trapped, the HCN will spay or neuter the cats and likely return them to the Bayshore because the shelter is already at capacity, said HCN Director Tonya Light.

When the HCN shelter has room for additional cats, it will likely accept some of the cats from the Bayshore colony. The non-profit, no-kill organization helps manage cat colonies throughout San Mateo County and spent $60,000 on veterinarian bills last year to rehabilitate homeless and feral cats, said Light.

The committee will likely vote on the issue at a later meeting and eventually send it to the City Council for a final vote, Miller said.

Dana Yates can be reached by e-mail: dana@smdailyjournal.com or by phone: (650) 344-5200 ext. 106. What do you think of this story? Send a letter to the editor: letters@smdailyjournal.com.