Stray cats' relocation under investigation

The Food and Veterinary Regulation Division has launched an inquiry into how and why a number of stray cats were shifted from San Anton Gardens to Wied Incita in Attard.

Chief veterinary officer Lino Vella said the inquiry, which is nearly concluded, was carried out as a result of a public outcry over the cats' removal from the gardens.

"We want to account for every cat and be 100 per cent certain that we have traced every one before concluding our investigations," Dr Vella said.

The hue and cry erupted some weeks ago when the Environmental Landscapes Consortium decided to transfer some of the cats from San Anton to Wied Incita because they were damaging plants.

Consortium general manager Ronald Cuschieri said at the time that "all we did is reduce the cat colony at San Anton and gave the cats a good home on our land. We do not mind having cats in public gardens but we cannot let the cat population get out of hand."

Dr Cuschieri had also called on the cat feeders and animal lovers to visit Wied Incita and see for themselves that the cats were being very well treated and fed every day by the employees.

However, animal lovers and feeders were not placated and letters kept pouring in to The Times asking under whose authority the cats were removed.

Dr Vella said this was one of the main reasons the matter was being investigated and he hoped to have clear conclusions in the coming days.

In the meantime, the Animal Welfare Council has also voiced concern in relation to way that stray animals, especially colonies, were being handled by individuals or groups.

In a statement issued yesterday, the council stressed that handling of stray/owned stray animals was to be carried out by trained people.

"Any trapping, movement, and re-housing has to be carried out under the authorisation of the Food and Veterinary Regulation Division, to ensure that no cruelty results to the animals in question," it said.

The council also emphasised that 'owned' strays were the responsibility of the individuals feeding them and that these individuals must ensure the welfare of these animals and neuter them.

A recent poll carried out on The Times website showed that 81.6 per cent of respondents favoured a policy on the relocation of stray cats, as opposed to 18.4 per cent against.

A total of 771 votes were logged in the three days that the question 'Should there be a policy on the relocation of stray cats?' was posted on the website.