Cat Trapping in Sandford
The Sandford Community Cat Management Project is moving into its final phase, with trapping set to begin this weekend
The project is a community-led initiative established by the Sandford Cat Management Group, with Ten Lives Cat Centre, Landcare Tasmania, Wildlife Network Tasmania and the City of Clarence working alongside local residents to better understand and manage the area’s roaming cat population.
The first phase of the project was a community consultation survey, which received 175 responses from people in the Sandford area.
The results highlighted strong community interest in responsible cat management. Nearly half of respondents reported seeing neighbourhood or stray cats on a daily or weekly basis, while 74% expressed concerns about roaming cats, including their impact on wildlife, uncontrolled breeding, disease risks and the need for greater support for responsible cat ownership.
We’re now preparing to begin targeted trapping in September, ahead of kitten season.
Trapping will focus on locations identified through confirmed sightings and feedback from the local community.
While the word “trap” can sound confronting, we use humane cage traps designed to safely contain cats so they can be assessed and cared for appropriately.
All cats trapped through the program will come into the care of Ten Lives. We’ll scan each cat for a microchip, check whether they have an owner and, wherever possible, work to reunite owned cats with their families.
We’re asking local cat owners to help by keeping their cats indoors or in secure outdoor enclosures during the trapping period, and by making sure their cats’ microchip details are up to date.
Keeping cats safely contained has also become even more important with the arrival of H5 bird flu in Tasmania.
This project is about caring for cats just as much as it is about protecting wildlife. We love cats, care deeply about their welfare, and want every cat to have the opportunity to live a safe and healthy life.
The survey results will also help guide future cat management work in Sandford. Having a better understanding of where cats are moving and where populations may be concentrated means local organisations can target their efforts where they’re needed most.
We’re really encouraged by the community’s response so far and grateful to everyone who took the time to participate in the survey.
For more information contact: Ten Lives Cat Centre 03 6278 2111