THE Doha Municipality’s trap-neuter-return (TNR) programme has treated about 12,000 cats so far and is going strong, Gulf Times was told.Dorothy Smit, who helps run the Qatar Cat Coalition (QCC), which co-ordinates TNR, explained that the programme needs the continued and full co-operation of landlords and residents.The aim of the programme is not the eradication of the feral cat population in Qatar, but rather its stabilisation. There are an estimated 50,000 feral cats in the country.“The cat population actually serves a great purpose in that they control the numbers of insects and rats,” she observed.Volunteers can get involved in the TNR programme, implemented and carried out by the municipality with government funding, by contacting Smit.
Residents who are growing tired of the noise and mess made by cats on their compounds, and animal-lovers alike, could contact Smit who will provide traps so the cats can be neutered and returned.The reason the cats need to be returned, as she explained, is that if they are released elsewhere they attempt to return to their original territory, and this often results in the cats being run over and killed.“Also, an empty compound will only become inhabited with more, un-neutered cats, and so it is better to return the neutered cats which can create a stable population,” Smit said.The municipality also humanely euthanises any unhealthy cats that would otherwise spread infection and disease, creating an unhealthy population.“The number of cats that have been euthanised so far is in line with internationally recognised guidelines for this sort of a programme,” she said.Asked if she believed that the cat population would stand in 10 years, Smit said that Qatar would be in line with European countries which have run similar programmes, and that the cat population would be nearer 10,000 in total.Smit is very hopeful that what has become a problem because of past inadequacies, is solvable, but also recognises the fact that it will take a concerted effort and concentration of resources to make a significant change. “Before this programme, the municipality poisoned stray cats to control the population, which actually does more harm than good in terms of numbers in the long term. And the act of poisoning the cats is despicable and should be punishable,” she said.There have recently been reports of landlords taking the cat issue into their own hands, and laying out poisoned bait in their compounds, but this is highly dangerous, and in fact sets back the TNR programme, because new cats always replace those that have moved on or been killed.Smit recommends that anyone who finds evidence of this practice going on should acquire photographic evidence and leave the bait, which only specialists should touch. Smit, who was once the chairperson of ‘Feline Friends’ in Abu Dhabi, says that although there are more difficulties trying to re-home 
abandoned animals here, the effects of the TNR programme, and the outlook in Qatar is far advanced compared to other Gulf countries. “Qatar is very forward thinking in this matter, and the free assistance by the government is an indication of this, and there are also plans to introduce a similar programme for dogs.”However, the lack of legal guidance on these issues is a problem. There are certain laws in place to deal with animal welfare, but they are archaic and fail to support the work the people are trying to do here. “At the moment, poisoning feral cats is not actually illegal,” said Smit, “but a new law is being investigated, and hopefully it will soon be a punishable crime.”She said that “although the government is willing and able to help this programme for free, the country does require some sort of Animal Welfare or RSPCA organisation.”“This is to protect and safeguard the rights of animals, provide legal guidelines and assistance, and also educate people here on the subject of pet-owning and other issues,” she added.Anyone wishing to get involved with QCC can call Dorothy on 5880142, or e-mail her at dorothysmit@hotmail.com
abandoned animals here, the effects of the TNR programme, and the outlook in Qatar is far advanced compared to other Gulf countries. “Qatar is very forward thinking in this matter, and the free assistance by the government is an indication of this, and there are also plans to introduce a similar programme for dogs.”However, the lack of legal guidance on these issues is a problem. There are certain laws in place to deal with animal welfare, but they are archaic and fail to support the work the people are trying to do here. “At the moment, poisoning feral cats is not actually illegal,” said Smit, “but a new law is being investigated, and hopefully it will soon be a punishable crime.”She said that “although the government is willing and able to help this programme for free, the country does require some sort of Animal Welfare or RSPCA organisation.”“This is to protect and safeguard the rights of animals, provide legal guidelines and assistance, and also educate people here on the subject of pet-owning and other issues,” she added.Anyone wishing to get involved with QCC can call Dorothy on 5880142, or e-mail her at dorothysmit@hotmail.com
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