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Tyrone sees ‘significant’ decrease in feral felines

Feeding of strays reportedly down

TYRONE — The resident who complained to Borough Council in August about approximately 30 feral cats in his neighborhood damaging gardens and depositing feces, urine and vomit on porches told council Monday the problem has abated a little.

There seem to be fewer animals in the area, as a neighbor who was feeding the cats has reduced the amount of feed she’s been setting out while other neighbors have apparently been trapping the animals, said Jonathan Holmes of the 400 block of 18th Street.

Holmes’ news may mean that council can back off for now on introducing an ordinance prohibiting the feeding of feral cats — although it must keep abreast of the situation, said Mayor Bill Latchford after the meeting.

“The number has decreased quite significantly,” Holmes told council.

The neighbor who was feeding the animals has gone from

eight or 10 to two bowls of food, Holmes said.

He doesn’t know what the neighbors who have been trapping the cats have been doing with the animals, he said after the meeting.

Latchford, who called himself a dog lover and a “cat liker,” said no one is recommending that the cats be euthanized and that he opposes such a solution.

He’s fine with trapping, neutering and releasing the cats, provided they are dispersed to other neighborhoods, he said.

One cat that was trapped and taken to a veterinarian reportedly tested positive for feline HIV, feline leukemia and pneumonia, Holmes said.

Latchford said things like that are a concern.

Latchford started a discussion of the cat problem on his mayoral Facebook page, but it turned into a catfight, he indicated.

“It didn’t go well,” he said. “People don’t play nice (on that kind of forum).”

Holmes, likewise, said he’s not a cat hater. “I just don’t want them to use my property as a litter box,” he said.

Mirror Staff Writer William Kibler is at 949-7038.

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