Las Vegas NowCounty Commission Tries to Solve Feral Cat Problem

County Commission Tries to Solve Feral Cat Problem

The county commission Tuesday tried to figure out what to do about the growing population of stray and feral cats in the valley. A new ordinance is being considered to try to deal with the problem but not everyone likes the plan.

The people at one mobile home park say it's been overrun with stray cats. Current laws call for strays to be captured and killed. But it's apparently not helping curb the cat problem. And a new proposal could mean even more cats in some areas. And that has residents there upset.

This quiet neighborhood near Nellis looks like they've been hiding from a monster. Holes underneath homes have been boarded up, mesh wiring covers entire porches to protect pets and homeowners keep their eyes out for the animals that stalk the night.

"They stay on the underside and tear things up -- AC ducts, belly paper, their plumbing lines," said Deann Weiss. She is the property manager at the mobile home park. She says hundreds of stray cats are calling her neighborhood home.

"You have all the different diseases that cats aren't tested for," she said. Weiss is opposed to a new ordinance before the county commission that would allow homeowners to house as many as 20 cats while they wait to be adopted.

"Granted you have a sponsor. That's great -- all these cats are in their home. The door opens up, the cats run out the door," she said.

According to Karen Layne, the president of the Las Vegas Humane Society, there are 200,000 feral cats loose in the valley. She says the county needs this new ordinance.

"One of its major parts is the concept of trapping, neutering and re-releasing. That's re-releasing back into a custodian. It's a different way of dealing with the cat problem in Clark County," she said.

But some people don't want the cats at all.

"I will not put up with stray cats fighting our animals and spreading disease," said Lester Stevens.

At the mobile home park, Weiss has done a decent job of cleaning this neighborhood up. But she is worried the new ordinance will give it right back to the cats.

County commissioners did not reach a decision in Tuesday's meeting, instead they put the ordinance on hold to make some revisions. They are looking at the possibility of cutting down the amount of cats a household sponsor can house.