Stock image of a feral cat. (Supplied by Pixabay)

By David Opinko

Feral cat program to continue after 54 identified, spayed/neutered in Crowsnest Pass

Oct 3, 2019 | 8:14 AM

CROWSNEST PASS, AB – The Mayor of the Municipality of Crowsnest Pass says feral cats are such a big issue in the community that they had to take action.

Back in the spring, they commissioned members of the Alberta Animal Rescue Crews Society (AARCS) based out of Calgary, as well as Protective Services and other local community groups to help out.

“We were getting quite a few complaints about feral cats,” says Mayor Blair Painter. “People were concerned, there were lots of cats in certain areas of our community, and some of them weren’t in really good condition.”

Manager of Protective Services Jesse Fox reported back to council this week on the initiative.

They were able to find 26 adult cats and 28 kittens throughout various areas of the community this spring and summer.

Nighttime construction on Hwy 3 in Lethbridge starts April 17

Apr 17, 2025

SASHA launches #BuyABed fundraiser to support vulnerable Lethbridge residents

Apr 04, 2025

$20K grants available: TELUS STORYHIVE Pan-Asian Edition opens applications April 1

Mar 18, 2025

Staff looked more heavily in areas like the western end of Coleman, but scoured the entirety of the Crowsnest Pass.

Painter says the crews find the cats, take them in for any needed medical attention, get them spayed or neutered, and release them back into town. This way, the cats are still able to live good lives, but will not overpopulate the area.

While people are able to adopt the feral cats, the mayor adds that “they’re pretty wild so they don’t make the best of snuggly, cuddly pets.”

The Municipality had budgeted $10,000 annually for the program but ended up spending less than half of that this year.

Council decided to continue with this work in 2020 at the same budgeted levels.

According to Painter, there are probably still hundreds of feral cats throughout the Crowsnest Pass so they will likely need to continue spaying and neutering them for at least another year or two.