I cringe when I hear people say they don't want to spay or neuter their animal because they whine that they 'want her to have one litter.' If people claim to care so much for animals, they should go to the shelter and provide a home for the strays and cast-offs that came from some sap who wanted their animal to breed without finding homes for the offspring. Liz, I am sorry that you had to witness such a sad event. Maybe your neighbors will see that and stop feeding feral cats.

Hi, I don't live near you - but I do own 3 cats (indoor cats). I feel so sorry for the strays. The farm I shop at has a lot of feral cats (we adopted 1) - and so many die during the winter, it is so sad. It is also sad to have an animal starve to death over the winter. I think your neighbors are trying to help, but not letting the animals starve. Are there any animal groups that could come and trap the cats and bring them to a no-kill shelter??? I used to live in Beacon, they have a cat sanctuary but they are always full. So sorry about the dead cat.

Liz, I am glad someone has addressed this problem. My wife and I live on Avenue A and also are upset about the cat problem. We have two cats of our own - (both neutered) and our house seems to be right in the middle of a "cat crossing". Admittedly, we have left out food for some kittens that plant themselves near our door crying all day and night. We recently took it upon ourselves to trap our neighbors cat (!) and had him neutered. Unfortunately, there are some very irresponsbile pet owners who may or may not realize that their irresponsibility falls in the hands of their neighbors. Shelters are overcrowded with cats and kittens as it is - the only answer is a trap and neuter plan. I am going to attempt to track down the owners of some of these cats and try to talk some sense into them. With the cold weather, it is even more important. Thanks again for bringing this issue to light. Mike & Kim McGuirk

Not too much of a problem out here on the east side. Guess they don't get along real well with the coyotes!

HI there, I just took in yet another cat from outside. This one is so sweet that she obviously was dumped by someone by my house who decided that such dumping was acceptable. This is the second time this person or persons has done this--my neighbor was nice enough to take in the first "dumpee." Unfortunately, dear like-minded people reading this, we are only preaching to the choir here--the people we have to "educate" (with hefty fines, etc.) don't read letters about animal welfare. As for "wild" cats, when I moved into my home, I caught and spayed 5 strays on my property. All five went on to my and my mom's home. Let's face it, everyone, "they" aren't going to have enough manpower and money to do it, so just bite the bullet; trap them yourself; call, bribe, and cajole a vet to fix them at spay-day prices or free; and either take them in, find others to take them in, or, at worst, leave them out with a shelter and feed them every day--they are not wild, we made them companion animals thousands of years ago, and, last but not least,"the Lord God made them all."

I can't believe I am commenting a comment but.... Ms. Maltese-McGill, there is such a thing as a wild cat. There are many of them in this village. They will not approach humans, they do not trust humans and they would rather bite you than anything. Fixing the cats and returning them to the outdoors is not humane to anyone. Cats kill local animals and birds that should not have them as a predator. Cats carry many diseases that can be transmitted through their fecal matter - that is in many a neighbor's garden. Humanely euthanizing them is better than the life that they lead outdoors. Many die from the cold, illnesses, animals and cars. We have no problem thinking about how we will kill the deer, lets think about the cats that are probably more of a threat to humans than the deer.

and besides, you can't eat a cat...

The Village has been overtaken by deer and feral cats? Seems to me its been overrun with smug, callous insensitive, self-absorbed animal haters (ie ELIZABETH METCALF). Glad I was able to escape to Balmville to live with civilized people.

"Humanely euthanizing" that just seems so wrong. I do not live near you, but have any 1 of you called any animal rights groups??
Just a thought.

Well, Ms Cornish are you the judge and jury! I am far from hating animals. I am hating their living conditions. Bring them to a shelter and guess what, many of them are humanely euthanized. Animal rights groups are only so helpful especially when it is cats. They are happy to help having them altered but that is about the extent of it. Start making some phone calls ladies and you will see how difficult it is to deal with wild or stray cats, no one wants them, there are too many of them. I am also glad you escaped to Balmville Ms. Cornish you sound like you belong there with the upper class (?). Obviously you are not a local Cornwall person like myself. I have lived here for 44 years and have seen the deterioration in my property due to the animals that do not belong OUTSIDE. Get a grip on who hates what!

"Smug, callous,insensitive, self-absorbed animal haters"
WHOA! Where is that chill pill they were talking about on another posting? Apparently you *are* out of the loop. Yes, deer activity has increased tremendously in the village, to the point where a local group has started to investigate possible solutions. My favorite solution- a good venison stew. But you can't eat a cat, as I've said, and they reproduce much faster than deer and over populate an area and bring all the problems already mentioned. Spay and release is a tried and proven approach. It prevents them from reproducing and reduces the risk of fleas, ticks and disease for domestic animals. And as far as saying what a 'better life' would be for a feral cat, if you think you can take that cute feral kitty home and he'll be happy , just wait 'til he pees all over your furniture, shreds your curtains (or your skin) and craps in your closet. After spaying they live out their natural feral lives and that is it.
On a personal note, last night, right in front of the fire house, a beautiful gray tabby with cream colored paws dashed out in front of my car, I was HORRIFIED and slammed on the brakes.(Luckily no one was behind me) I heard a thump under my car and the fear that he may have been killed made me sick. I pulled over, didn't see him anywhere, looked under and in all the bushes around the fire house, but he was gone. I can only hope that he was only freaked out as I was and not suffering from internal injuries or broken bones. After I got back in my car I was SO PISSED. Who let that beautiful cat out? I would have slapped the person had I known who had been so IRRESPONSIBLE as to let out a house pet. So if you're reading this and your cat did not come home last night I am truly sorry for your heartbreak but can only wonder, WTF? WHY did you let your cat roam loose??!!??! A house cat is just that: a *house* cat. And Ms. Cornish, I invite you to stay in Balmville. Have a nice day.

Thanks Kate!!!! I appreciate your view. I never thought we would have this much feedback on this subject. It is obviously a very touchy subject. I am sorry for your scare. The thought of hitting any animal makes me crazy because I do love animals but as you said they are HOUSE cats not OUTSIDE cats!!!

I have to agree with you Mr. Wilkinson. If you catch them when they are young they are much easier to handle. I also have to kittens that I caught in July and are now my son's pets. They are fine, even though I really do not want cats, I could not leave them out in the cold of the winter I knew was coming. Thank you for your compassion toward these animals. It is not always an easy task.

Operative words there, "when they are young". Feral is not a species it is behavior that they learn as they mature.

as an aside.. if you love cats go to 'daily kos' and search for "pooties" or go to you tube and search for the most hysterical "engineers guide to cats" sent to me by my pal Frank. I think it it is hysterical, who knew engineers could be so funny.... ;-)