Mumbai: Spurt in cat numbers worries animal lovers

One cat can give birth to 36 kittens over 16 months

Citing a sudden rise in the population of cats across the city, animal lovers have urged the BMC to sterilise stray felines. While the civic body sterilises dogs to check dog bite incidents, there are no such attempts made for cats. Activists say too many stray cats in the city could lead to the spread of fleas, Coccidiosis, roundworms and hookworms in slum pockets.

Darius Kavasmaneck says he feeds about 2,000 cats between CSMT and Grant Road

Animal lovers say they have to spend nearly Rs 2,500 to neuter a cat. Fort resident Sneha Visaria, who runs Just Smile Charitable Trust, said she has written to BMC chief Iqbal Singh Chahal and chief secretary of Maharashtra for intervention.

While BMC has no record of the cat population in Mumbai, civic officials said they have started sterilisation of cats at IDA Hospital, Deonar, following appeals from animal lovers.

Visaria told mid-day, "I feed 500 cats and many dogs daily in Fort. Since last year, the population has suddenly increased. As a result, many kittens get separated from their mothers and die of hunger. Separation of children from mothers is the worst sin in our culture, but humans do it with animals." A cat can give birth to 36 kittens in 16 months.

Arjun Ajgaonkar from Dhobi Talao who has been feeding cats for the past two years said, "There are 300-400 cats in my area and their number is increasing day by day. BMC should start sterilising cats or else it will be difficult for us to feed them."

Another feeder and Cuffe Parade resident, Darius Kavasmaneck, said he provides food to over 2,000 cats between CSMT and Grant Road. "Earlier, I would feed 5-7 cats in one area, but now there are 50-60 of them. My daughter Pearl lives in Dadar and she feeds cats from her place up to Bandra. She too is facing the same problem," he said.

Yogesh Shetye of BMC's Veterinary Health Department said there are no guidelines on sterilisation of cats. "It is nearly impossible to count the number of cats in the city. We need more NGOs to come forward. Sterilisation of cats is free at IDA Hospital."

The problem is the same in Ambernath too, said local resident Pravin Salunkhe.

Rs 2500
Money spent by NGOs in sterilising a cat