Question

This old man is catching cats in cat cages! He has a collar on him and he left him there to die. My cat is no longer an outdoor cat. My father had to jump the fence, pry open the cage and get him out. This is unheard of. I am 44 years old and have never heard of a cat trap. Why are people doing this to cats?! THIS CANNOT BE LEGAL.

Answer

Cat traps are widely used to trap feral cats as part of trap/neuter/return (TNR) programs and by individuals who want to TNR cats in their area to try to reduce the overpopulation of cats. Many rescue groups and municipalities have endorsed TNR programs as they are considered the most humane and effective way of curtailing the overpopulation of cats. People who allow their cats to roam off of their property run the risk of their animals being trapped too, getting run over, becoming lost, etc. All that said, people who trap cats and fail to remove the cats from the trap in a timely manner and people who abandon cats or otherwise mistreat cats can be charged with animal cruelty. The police, SPCA (society for the prevention of cruelty to animals), and other entities in one’s area that enforce animal cruelty laws should be contacted. I am happy to hear that your cat is safe.

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