Penang to tackle rising stray cat numbers with proposed trap-neuter-release programme

“GEORGE TOWN, May 22 — The Penang Island City Council (MBPP) is planning to introduce a trap-neuter-release (TNR) programme to curb the growing stray cat population on the island following the success of a similar initiative for stray dogs. MBPP Mayor Datuk A. Rajendran said the move is necessary as the number of stray cats has been increasing, especially around wet markets and public eateries. “We can see them in these places, people are simply releasing their cats,” he told reporters after the signing of a memorandum of understanding with IAPWA to extend the collaboration for another five years at the Town Hall here today. He said another way to combat the abandonment of pets, both cats and dogs, which has contributed to the rise in stray animals, is through the introduction of mandatory microchipping for pets. “This is because we see a lot of owners would just release their pets and we do not want this to happen, so those who sell pets, they have to make sure the animals are chipped so that we can identify the owners if these pets are found in the streets,” he said. He said the move is not meant to be punitive but aimed at encouraging greater responsibility among pet owners. “We do not want to go after them, we want them to be more responsible and to reduce the strays in the streets,” he said. Currently, MBPP is conducting a feasibility study on introducing mandatory microchipping for pets. At the same time, Rajendran said the city council will open a cat sanctuary on a 1.2ha (three-acre) site in Batu Ferringhi. He said there is currently a private cat sanctuary in the area that has drawn complaints because it is located near residential neighbourhoods. “So, we are setting one up which will be fully run by volunteers and we also plan to set up a veterinary clinic that is fully operated by volunteers so that the fees are lower,” he said. He said one reason pets are abandoned is the high cost of veterinary treatment, adding that an affordable clinic could help reduce abandonment cases. “This way, people won’t abandon their pets as the veterinary fees are more affordable,” he said. The cat sanctuary is expected to open by the end of the year, while plans for the clinic are still underway. Meanwhile, MBPP has also identified a 0.8ha (two-acre) site in Paya Terubong to be developed into a dog sanctuary. “We realised that some dogs taken in under the TNR programme are too wild to be released so we needed a place to house them,” he said. He said aggressive or feral dogs would be housed at the sanctuary to prevent them from posing a danger to the public. “We will be able to house about 2,000 dogs in the sanctuary so this will significantly reduce the number of stray dogs in the streets,” he said. He added that MBPP hopes to drastically reduce the stray population over the next five to 10 years, with the long-term aim of achieving zero strays. “Our only problem now are the dogs in the hills and plantations in the hills that were not neutered,” he said. He said the terrain made it difficult to trap the dogs and urged plantation owners to help bring them in for neutering. Earlier, MBPP signed a new memorandum of understanding with the Independent Aid for Protection and Welfare of Animals (IAPWA) Penang to continue its TNR programme for stray dogs. Almost 8,500 stray dogs have been neutered under the programme since 2018, with the city council maintaining a zero-kill policy since then.

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