House cats abandoned in rural Alberta frustrate landowners

An Alberta family says they and their neighbours are sick of finding stray house cats on their rural property, thought to be dumped there by people who can't take care of them anymore. 

"We've lived here for three years now and it's a constant issue," said Connie Seidle, who lives with her partner in Bearberry, Alta., northwest of Sundre. 

She says they've discovered eight domesticated cats abandoned on their land in the past few month and thinks it's owners who believe the cats will find a warm barn and someone to take care of them. 

"But it's just not the way it works out in the country," said Seidle. 

"There are so many predators.… Especially a city cat, a house cat, they have no survival skills out in the wild."

She says they've rescued a few cats but have reached their limit. 

"Just this past weekend, there were a couple of probably eight- or 10-month-old female cats that had been dropped off," she said.

"They were obviously well socialized house cats. They were quite happy to come approach people for help. And, you know, when we petted them, they just purred. They were obviously looking to people for help."

And they're not alone. Friends and neighbours have also taken in dozens of abandoned cats, Seidle says. 

"They keep coming and it never seems to end," she said.

It happens so frequently, the couple have a space with a few crates and some food in their garage specifically for found cats.

Debbie Nelson, director of operations with the MEOW Foundation, says it's an issue they're well aware of.

Nelson says that from May through November they get many calls about it.

"Sometimes they're from the property owners who say, 'this pregnant cat just appeared on my property. I've never seen it before, and can you guys help,'" she said.

"Or we get a lot of Calgarians who say, 'I was just out visiting on this farm and there are these little kittens running around and they don't appear to belong to anybody. Can you help us please?""

Nelson says she has a message for anyone who chooses to abandon their cat in the wild.

"It's cruel and it's inhumane," she said. 

"Cats are not born survivalists. Cats have been in a city or in a home all their life they don't know how to hunt. Often they're just absolutely terrified and run."

Nelson says that when someone buys a cat, they need to be aware that they're making a 15- to 20-year commitment. 

"They can live quite a long time. And it's really important to know that, before you take on a responsibility, which may become too much for you later," she said.

 Nelson said she wants to remind people that there are plenty of organizations in Alberta that rescue cats, help with food and offer free spay and neutering.

But if someone does find an abandoned cat, they can help, too. 

"I would be the first to say that the problem is so overwhelming that, in spite of all the great rescues in Calgary, that we can't always accommodate all these requests," she said. 

"One of the things people can do who find these cats is they can actually try to find homes on their own. That's really a big help and takes the stress off rescue groups."