Can’t the stray cats just be desexed?
There are a number of problems with just desexing, and then returning, the stray cats to the streets (this idea is commonly referred to as ‘trap, neuter and release’). Firstly, these cats can still suffer terrible health and animal welfare problems when living as strays. Experience has also shown that after stray cats have been trapped for desexing, they can then become ‘trap shy’ and difficult to catch again in future. There have been instances of such cats getting injuries like broken legs, and then having to endure a slow and agonising death because they could not be caught again for treatment. Returning the stray cats would not resolve the nuisance problems, or stop them from preying on wildlife. It would also never be possible to trap and desex enough of the cats to adequately control the stray cat population in Victoria.
