Stray and feral cats are becoming an increasing concern in many areas of Berks County, including Wyomissing. Besides threatening birds, squirrels and other native wildlife, stray and feral cats pose a public health risk, as they can spread tick and flea-borne illnesses and viruses such as rabies. Trap, Neuter, Vaccinate and Return (TVNR) has proven to be one of the only ways to successfully and humanely reduce the feral cat population. Cats that are TVNR’d are spayed or neutered, left ear tipped, vaccinated against rabies and then returned to the area they were trapped. Trapping and removing the cats alone doesn’t work because cats in nearby communities will move into the area and breed up to capacity. This is called the “vacuum effect” and explains why trap and remove programs fail. The Animal Rescue Leage of Berks County and No Nonsense Neutering are two local agencies that provide TVNR services.
At their September meeting, Borough Council approved advertisement of an ordinance that will regulate the feeding and care of “cats at large”. The ordinance provides definitions for stray and feral cats and regulates what an owner of a stray cat, and a caretaker of a feral cat, must do to comply with the ordinance. A complete copy of the draft ordinance is available here, for which a motion to adopt the ordinance will be on the agenda for the October 8, 2024, Borough Council meeting. After adoption of the ordinance, any Borough resident that intends to be a caregiver for a feral cat(s) will need to apply for a Feral Cat Caregiver permit, including proof that the resident has TVNR’d the cats in their care, the number of cats in their care, and the number and location of any feeding stations. After written notice to a resident that is found to be acting as a caregiver for a feral cat(s) without obtaining a Feral Cat Caregiver permit, the resident will be subject to a fine of up to $1,000 and the cost of prosecution, per day the resident continues to act as a Feral Cat Caregiver without a permit.
Stray cats, a non-feral cat whose owner allows the cat to run free off the property of the owner, will not be permitted unless the cat is neutered/spayed, vaccinated against rabies, left ear tipped, and fitted with an identification tag or collar, or microchipped. Stray cats are prohibited to cause damage to other persons or property, and from trespassing on private property. Stray cat owners that do not abide with these regulations will also be subject to a fine of up to $1,000 and the cost of prosecution.
If you have questions regarding the draft ordinance, please send an email to info@wyomissingboro.org, requesting more information. If you need to report a stray or feral cat(s) caregiver, after October 8, 2024, that you believe is not abiding with the new Borough regulations, please contact Kraft Municipal Group, the Borough’s third party code enforcement agency, at 610-777-1311.