The purpose of these recommendations are to protect the quality of life for Wichita citizens, at home and at play. Whether they have 4 legs or 2, scales, skin, feathers or fur, all citizens deserve recognition when determining measures that will protect, preserve or guarantee their welfare. An extensive review of city ordinances have shown that these are not unreasonable. While not widespread, they have been found in other ordinances in the US. Friends of Feral Felines should embrace these as opportunities to provide greater security to all cats in Wichita instead of fighting against them. Our additions are as follows:
- All feral cats are to be micro-chipped at the time of their ear-tipping.
- A rabies booster is to be given according to the vaccine manufacturers protocols. Annual or Tri-Annual vaccinations (for rabies and other illnesses) of all colonized cats.
- The guidance provided in the Caretaker Guidelines must be mand ensconced in the language of the ordinance as made available for review as these practices will determine in great measure the success of the project.
- Feeding should take place at the same time of day each day, whether once or twice a day for a period not to exceed 30 minutes. During this time the caregiver will oversee feeding to watch for new cats coming into the feeding area, to note any injured or sick cats and to make sure that no wildlife comes in to feed.
- Food must be placed in spill proof bowls or if such bowls are not immediately available or unavailable for some other reason, food should be placed atop a cookie tray or other surface so as to prevent food from falling onto the ground.
- Any food that falls to the ground or is not consumed by the end of the feeding must be picked up and thrown away in a container that prevents spillage or otherwise prevents access by animals or insects.
- Food must be stored in a climate-controlled environment to maintain freshness and prevent spoilage in containers that are impervious to both insects and animals. Any food that is spoiled must be thrown away and not reused.
- Each colony should have a dug litter box area sufficient for the size of the colony to provide a means of limiting the use of adjoining properties as litter boxes. This litter box area should:
- Be dug and consist of a bottom layer if gravel, an intermediate layer of finer gravel, and a top layer of playground sand 3-4 inches in depth.
- Sand should be regularly cleaned of fecal matter and other debris to encourage its use.
- Sand should be periodically removed and replaced with fresh sand in order to prevent discourage odor, insects and disease.
- No colony will be allowed to exist or to be established within 1000 feet of any Wichita Wild Habitat or undeveloped Wild designated properties.
- No grandfathering of existing colonies in any of our Wild Parks or undeveloped Wild properties.
- All cats, feral or owned, in Wichita must be vaccinated at required intervals and caregivers must be able to provide proof of vaccination, of all cats within their care. The total number of cats not re-vaccinated and the chip IDs of those not being re vaccinated, where possible, should be logged.
- Community Cat caregivers must register with Wichita Animal Services as a responsible party or face a penalty of (TBD) in accordance with 6.04.190.
- An annual report must be submitted by each caregiver to Wichita Animal Services listing the number of cats, the microchip id and show proof of rabies vaccinations and any other required vaccinations along with those cats not re-vaccinated. Cats TNR’d prior to this ordinance may be exempted from micro chipping If a chipped cat requires anesthesia at any future time then that cat should be micro chipped.
- Organizations participating in the TNR program shall maintain records including number of cats trapped, location of Community Cat colonies, number of cats sterilized, number of cats vaccinated for rabies, number of cats returned, number of cats euthanized due to illness or injury and number of cats trapped, neutered and sent to rescues or foster homes for eventual adoption. These records must be submitted annually to Wichita Animal Shelter for continued registration as a caregiver.
- The number of cats in the community cat colony must be shown to be in decline. An increase in the number of cats may result in Animal Services intervention to reduce the numbers or revocation of registration.
- Caregivers of feral cats at the time of passage of this ordinance shall be allowed to maintain an existing cat colony in the current state as long as the colony is registered within six weeks from the date of passage. If the colony exceeds eight cats in combination with any owned cats, the caregiver shall not care for any additional cats at any time until the number reaches that allowed by ordinance. If the colony exists in an unauthorized area (within park buffer zones or more than 3 colonies per square mile, the caretaker will have six weeks to comply with ordinance.
- The TNR program will be reviewed three years from the date the ordinance becomes law to determine its effectiveness and if it cannot prove effective will be changed or abandoned.