ABC-7 Examines One Remedy To Pet Overpopulation

The city of El Paso has a cat population of 200,000 — but those are the ones that have owners. There’s no way to calculate the number of feral cats roaming the streets. However, the deputy director of health at the Department of Animal Services told ABC-7 its staff processes 12,000 cats annually.

“Unfortunately a lot of people don’t obey the law, which states that they should keep (their cats) at home. And they let them roam and breed,” said Eduardo De Castro.

For those who don’t want stray cats finding a new home in their yard, Animal Services has a solution: cat traps.

“Every Monday, we have anywhere from a handful to a dozen people requesting cat traps,” said De Castro.

The Monday morning that ABC-7 visited the shelter, only a handful of people were waiting for 9 a.m. to roll around so they could check out a free trap. Employees called it an “unusually” slow day.

The 14 available traps are only given out on Mondays. They must be returned by Friday evening. The painless procedure has given relief to at least one East El Paso resident.

“I’ve caught about 19 cats in three years,” said Jesus Hernandez.

Hernandez was first in line in front of the shelter, waiting since 8:30 a.m. to pick up a trap. He said he’s allergic to cats and tries to keep them off his property for that and other reasons.

“One thing I don’t like about cats is they make their, how do you call, their business on my grass,” Hernandez said.

Once the cat is captured and taken to Animal Services, it is checked for tags or microchips. If it has either of those, it is held for six days. But the city depends on pet owners to call the shelter to see if it has been turned in.

For those who don’t have any ID, they are held for three days. If they are considered tame, they will be put up for adoption. Feral cats are not adoptable and will be put down.

For more information on cat traps and spaying and neutering call Animal Services at 842-1000.