Cat woes have resident’s dander up

July 9, 2014 · 0 Comments

Why must I repeatedly be subjected to roaming cats and all that they bring when they trespass on my property?
I am sickened by the stench of cat spray that greets me when I step out my front door. I’m repelled at finding cat feces on my front walkway (four times now) and by accidentally picking up feces in my bare hands while working in my garden.
I’m pained at seeing dead birds and small animals in my yard that they have played with, killed and left to rot. I’m disgusted at the cat stench that my dog picks up as he makes his way around my back yard and brings into the house.
Their presence prevents me from enjoying the chipmunks and birds. Last year, cats successfully destroyed $25 worth of flowers in my fenced back yard by rolling in the garden. Why am I being denied my pleasures when there are bylaws in place?
By-Law: SECTION 3 – CATS RUNNING AT LARGE. 3.1 No owner of any cat shall permit such cat to run at large within the Town of Aurora.
What good is a bylaw that’s not well enforced? This round of cat intrusions has included frequent offenders. My neighbor told me he relies on his dog to chase them away from his property.
It appears that some cat owners are oblivious to the rules or just don’t care. For instance, one day while talking to another neighbor, she remarked, “Oh, my cat just ran into your back yard.” When I explained the law, her response was (paraphrase), “Cats are allowed to roam as long as they have a license.”
It makes me wonder how those cat owners can be so oblivious to the problems their cats cause their neighbors, or not even care that they are putting their cats at risk, like the pregnant cat I spotted the other day.
I’ve lived in this house for 38 years and can count on one hand the number of roaming dogs I’ve seen, whereas there are frequently five cats at a time roaming around here. Those are just the cats I find on my own property. I’ve seen more wandering on other streets in this area.
While the Bylaw Officer has done a good job reducing the roaming cats when I have put in complaints, I shouldn’t have to complain repeatedly year after year. It’s time for something more drastic to be done. Cat owners need to be educated, not only on the bylaw and as it pertains to roaming, but also as it negatively impacts their neighbors and their rights.
No doubt they would soon take action if my dog repeatedly wandered onto their property and left his mark.

Sylvia Dickens
Aurora