Animal advocates speak against bill that would prohibit feeding stray cats

SALT LAKE CITY — Animal advocates are weighing in on a proposed bill that would make it illegal to leave out food for stray cats overnight.

Arlyn Bradshaw with the Best Friends Animal Society tells Dave and Dujanovic… this bill is a bit of an oversimplification.

H.B. 505 or “Feral Cat Amendments” limits the feeding of cats to daytime hours only. 

“There is… perhaps a different approach from the multi-types of things that will attract [that] wildlife into neighborhoods as opposed to looking at this one single point.”

Bradshaw says Best Friends is working to facilitate a healthy and positive relationship between people feeding stray cats and animal control. And this bill doesn’t promote that.

Additionally, Bradshaw says cats are generally nocturnal. So getting rid of food at night might keep them from getting the nutrition they need. 

Also, this bill wouldn’t keep cats away from neighborhoods said Bradshaw. 

“if you’re worried about nuisances involving the cats,” said Bradshaw.  “If you’re feeding them only during daylight hours that’s going to increase the chances that they’re going to interact with the general population of people. 

Listen to the full segment as Arlyn Bradshaw discusses the proposed bill. 

 

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