'Colony Cat' Program Outlined In Proposed Freehold Ordinance

FREEHOLD, NJ — The Borough Council has crafted a detailed ordinance regulating how a pilot program to control the colony cat population here would work.

The so-called "TNR" pilot program - referring to trap, neuter, vaccinate and release - was introduced Nov. 21. The ordinance would have to be adopted by the end of the year to take effect, the borough said. It is expected the second reading may be Dec. 5. A final agenda has not been published as yet.

Under the pilot TNR program, should it be adopted, cat colonies would be permitted and caregivers "shall be entitled to maintain them" in accordance with the the ordinance. Any cat that is part of such a managed and registered colony would not be considered a "feral cat" for the purposes of the code, the ordinance says.

The proposed pilot program would terminate two years from its effective date unless the council acts to continue it prior to that date. The borough will study the effectiveness of the program no later than six months before the expiration of the pilot program, if it has not already acted to extend the program.

Caregivers reacted positively to the introduction of the ordinance.

"It's been four years in the making," said Andrea Burica, who has helped many residents trap cats to be neutered, spayed and vaccinated.

She said she and others have helped 80 people deal with cats on their property and it has successfully reduced the unwanted cat population.

"The public came out and supported this," she said, referring to meetings this fall where the concept for a program was discussed publicly.

"Hopefully this will improve the quality of life for the community and the cats," she said.

Caregivers would be responsible for various actions involving the colony. There are 11 points named in the ordinance for caregivers, including registering the colony with the borough; taking reasonable steps to vaccinate the cats for rabies; to spay or neuter at least 90 percent of the population; and to provide the borough with descriptions of the cats and documents certifying vaccination and spaying/neutering.

Caregivers would also have to feed, water and, where possible, shelter the cats, and get written permission by the property owner where access to the colony is needed.

The caregiver would have to take "reasonable steps" to have any kittens born in the colony adopted or fostered after a period of weaning to ensure a permanent home.

Caregivers would have to provide medical attention to a colony cat when needed and also take reasonable steps to prevent cats from creating a nuisance on adjacent properties.

The ordinance also calls for caregivers to report annually in writing to the borough on the status of the colony, including data on the number and gender of cats in the colony, the number of cats that died or otherwise ceased to be part of the colony, the number of kittens born to colony cats and their disposition and the number of cats or kittens placed in permanent homes as companion cats.

Colony cats would also be ear-tipped and a chip by a veterinarian. And the borough would reserve the right to remove any cat not vaccinated exhibiting signs of rabies.

There are other requirements caregivers must meet to deal with any cat creating a nuisance.

The ordinance also provides definitions of its language, such as defining a "stray cat," a "nuisance," and a "community cat colony," among several other definitions.

You can access the ordinance at the borough website and scroll down to the addendum for this ordinance to read all the specifics.