Letter to the Editor Tuesday October 14, 2014

Let them be

I support Klaus Kurz' comments (Cats too slow, Northern Advocate September 26).

Also, isn't it time these senior citizens of Paihia are left alone to look after nine 'urban' well-fed, desexed, elderly cats? The harassment dealt out to these Paihia citizens on a regular basis by a minority group of extremists is absolutely disgusting.

Why should we allow conservationists to go to the extreme by interfering with our choice of companion animals in our villages, towns and cities? I watch my cats closely, my well-fed cats do not touch the wildlife in our area. I see them sitting outside with birds hopping all around, not taking any notice. All cats do not stalk birds.

It may not be widely known, but under the Animal Welfare Act the Paihia citizens would have been in breach of the Act if they had neglected to feed these stray urban cats that they are considered to be in charge of. It is also a fact that cats will only hunt the easiest targets, and cats in an urban situation show little predation.

I frequently visit Paihia in summer, and it is buzzing with visitors. I would also like to ask these extreme conservationists why you are wasting time in an urban area in the Paihia Village Green, a space often filled with craft stalls, farmers' market stalls, wine and food festivals and a helicopter pad 50 metres away? Talk of wildlife in this area by the few that oppose the cats is ludicrous.

The endangered dotterels are across the Waitangi Estuary, two kilometres away. It is a joke that accusations are being made that these elderly, well-fed cats are travelling this distance to stalk the dotterels. Also the coastal road is a state highway, and runs along the three main eastern beachfronts a far too busy environment for beach-feeding dotterels.

This is a very responsible action of the PCP group to ensure this cat feeding station has been erected. This gives close control and regular monitored feeding of these elderly urban cats. Please turn your attentions to the rural area, where I hope the poor rural dumped cats are caught humanely.

It is not their fault that the poor creatures have ended up in the rural bush.

JEAN WILLIAMS

Whangarei