I REFER to the letters by Mrs Serene Tan, 'Stray cats a pest at former Big Splash' (Jan 16), and Mr Noel Peck, 'Pests: Beware aggressive felines at seafood centre' (Jan 20).

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Dear Michelle Lee (Ms), Part I
I do appreciate your Cat Welfare Society in your contributions to help Stray Cats and I acknowledge the efforts of your volunteers in going the extra miles to help distress animals.
I’m all for neutering of stray cats including pet cats in oppose to culling of cats… however, if the situations of overpopulations is beyond controls… where there are significant rise in problems presented by such overpopulations… that may have several impact to the survival of the strays as well as their sufferings apart from the social problems they presents to the society…humane culling may be necessary.
This is where I differ from you?

I do agree with you that Culling cats is only a temporary fix which will have what is known as a 'vacuum effect'. This means that before long, new, unsterilised cats will move in from surrounding areas, causing the same annoyance as the previous ones.
However, this temporary fix may becomes necessary if the potential of risks/ problems increases due to overpopulations…since we have till date no control over irresponsible owners in dumping their unsterilised cats into public areas and there are still a number of unsterilised strays not address by your CWS.

Apart from overpopulation problems, there are also concerns about potential risks that stray cats could present which I find a number of readers tends to downplay the seriousness of the risks including your statement below:
“…but few will attack a human unless provoked. There is therefore little reason to believe people are in any immediate danger of random cat attacks.”

With all due respect, I must disagree with you that “a few cats will attack a human UNLESS PROVOKED”
As an expert with cats (I presume), you should be well aware that Feline aggression towards people should not be underestimated, cats can do a great deal of damage with claws and teeth… Young children and elderly people with frail skin are particularly at risk… there were numerous scientific studies/medical reports about the risks presented by cats bite and scratch which I will elaborate later in my Part 2.

In regards to “cats will attack a human UNLESS PROVOKED” I do have my reservations on this kind of statement… (Pardon my English: the word “provoke” means to me is ‘make angry’, ‘cause’, ‘compel’, ‘annoy’ … which does suggest the fault lies with the ‘victim’ of the attack)
There are many reasons why cats turn aggressive… not just been provoked as you put it to be.
1. Cat in Pain from medical/physical conditions could display aggressive behaviors and will attack at random without been provoked.

2. Maternal aggression: Mother Cats with young kittens are naturally protective of their young. Hormonally-influenced aggression is strongest during the first week after birth and gradually diminishes as the kittens get older

3. Redirected aggression: When a cat becomes upset, it would normally direct the aggression toward the source; however, if the source is not accessible, the cat may redirect the aggression towards something closer such as you, a dog or another cat.

Unfortunately, the association between a victim and a stressful event can stick for a long time, so that every time the cat is around the victim, it is reminded of the incident and may attack again. Therefore attack may have no relation to the ‘victim’ action!

4. Play aggression: One family called Cats International (in US) after their cat bit a sleeping child on the face. They’d take the cat to a shelter for quarantine, but they wanted to know if there was anything they could do to fix the behavior and bring it home.
During family time, watching television, the children would sit on the floor, wrap blankets around their arms and encourage the cat to play, Ms. Lipscomb discovered. The bored cat had obviously decided to wake one of the kids up for a romp session.

5. Territorial aggression: Cats can be a territorial lot and often do not take kindly to strangers, animal or human, intruding on their turf. Territoriality aside, aggressive or destructive behavior in cats can be more than just a nuisance.

Therefore in view of the above, I do not think that it is right to suggest that “cats will attack a human UNLESS PROVOKED”

Risks of Cats bites and scratches cannot be underestimates… however, due to the space limitation… I shall do it in my Part II.

Dear Michelle Lee (Ms), Part 2
Apart from stray cats overpopulations problems there are also concerns about the potential health risks that stray cats could presents.
According to http://www.encyclopedia.com/doc/1G2-3447200045.html
Extract:
“A dog's mouth is rich in bacteria, but only 15 to 20 percent of dog bites become infected. In contrast, approximately 30 to 50 percent of cat bites become infected because a cat's teeth can penetrate more deeply than a dog's and carry bacteria deeper into a wound.”

“Cats, with their needle-like incisors and carnassial teeth, typically cause puncture wounds. Puncture wounds appear innocuous on the surface, but the underlying injury goes deep. The teeth of a cat essentially inject bacteria deep within the bite, and the deep, narrow wound is difficult to clean. Persons with impaired immune systems—for example, individuals with HIV infection—are especially vulnerable to infection from cat bites.
The bacterial species most commonly found in animal bite wounds include Pasteurella multocida, Staphylococcus aureus, Pseudomonas sp., and Streptococcus sp., P. multocida, the root cause of pasteurellosis, is especially prominent in cat bite infections. Other infectious diseases from animal bites include cat-scratch disease, tetanus , and rabies .”

According to: http://www.wormsandgermsblog.com/tag...ratch-disease/
Extract:
“Bartonella henselae is a small, Gram-negative bacterium that is host-adapted to cats It may rarely cause mild illness in cats, but most felines, from tiny house cats to the king of the beasts, carry the bacteria with no clinical signs whatsoever.”

“These include bacillary angiomatosis (formation of masses of abnormal blood and lymph vessels), endocarditis (infection of the lining of the heart), chronic lymphadomegally (enlarged lymph nodes), and pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis, better known as cat scratch disease.”

“There are at least four Bartonella species (among many, many other Bartonella species) that can infect cats, but B. henselae is the most common. There are at least nine Bartonella species that can infect humans, seven of which are zoonotic.
Between 5% and 40% of cats in the USA have B. henselae in their bloodstream”

“But 20-50% of cat bites become infected, compared to 4-20% of dog bites. The bacteria responsible are most often combinations of Pasteurella spp., Staphylococcus spp., Streptococcus spp. and others. In some cases, particularly when Pasteurella multocida is involved, the infection can develop very rapidly (within hours) and may become very serious, or even spread to the bloodstream. Cat scratch disease (Bartonella henselae infection), despite the name, can also be transmitted by cat bites. Cat bites can be very deep, even though they look very small at the level of the skin, which may lead to infection of things like joints and tendons under the skin, which are more serious.”

“It has been estimated that ~90% of cats that are carrying dermatophytes (Ringworm) do not show any signs of infection, but they can still transmit the fungus to other animals and people.” Ringworm is quite contagious”

“Infection of a pregnant woman with Toxoplasma can cause birth defects or even miscarriage”
“Cats are the only animal species that can spread Toxoplasma in their stool. Only a very small percentage of cats are shedding Toxoplasma at any one time, but the proportion can be higher among cats that go outside, hunt or are fed raw meat”
“Any infection that can potentially have devastating effects on a fetus needs to be taken seriously”

“Various bacteria that can cause diarrhea in people can be carried by kittens, including Salmonella and Campylobacter. These are shed in the stool of infected animals, and people can become ill from handling the animal or stool-contaminated areas”
“Kittens may have higher rates of carriage of these bacteria than adult cats. Another bacterium that can be carried commonly by kittens is Bartonella henselae, the cause of cat scratch disease. This is transmitted by bites, scratches and fleas, and is just one reason for proper flea control”

“Rabies is always a concern, and widespread exposure of people to rabies has occurred from infected litters of kittens. While uncommon, rabies is a major concern because it is almost invariably fatal. Any stray (or recently rescued) animal that starts acting strangely should be considered a rabies-suspect and be taken to a vet immediately”

“Fatal avian flu developed in leopards and tigers in a zoo in Thailand during an avian flu outbreak. It was suspected that they ate infected chickens. Similarly, avian influenza in a pet cat was thought to have resulted from eating a dead pigeon (the pigeon presumably having died of avian flu). The potential role of cats in transmitting disease was highlighted by a study that reported that cats can become infected by eating infected birds, and can transmit avian flu to other cats”

The list can go on…. There are clear and present risks presented by the strays… how would your CWS intend to address these risks?

Dear Perimondeo
Since we are still at this topic, I think we still have unfinished business…
http://comment.straitstimes.com/show...=16213&page=12
Before I start with you, I must made it clear that my previous passage had NOT BEEN REFERING to Animal lovers ALONE… it is referring to human active participation in the killing of animals. It is in the context of addressing a particular reader who state that killing is wrong “A life is a life, be it human or cats”, it is to highlight the fact that human does kills animal and therefore if s/he is so concern about killing life and loving animals… then she must also fight for the rest of the animal world too! Or it would seem hypocritical to me.

But you have choose to represent Animal lovers in defending that they will not condone those activities I’ve mentioned and you does accuse my examples as “showing that I have been making blanket statements and tarring all with the same brush.” While in actual fact you quote me out of context! Those example I’ve quote are facts about human active participation in the killing of animals.

Now let’s review what you say… I’m open and willing to learn from you if it is true.

You say on 23 Jan 09, 2.53am: You Quote me < Human eat and hunt animals for pleasure, exotic taste, skins, etc >
Your Reply to me # Animals lovers do not do such things. Many are vegetarians. Those who do eat animal meat have fought for more humane methods of slaughtering of animals

I ask: Isn’t it a blanket statement itself? Can you be sure that all animals lover and those who claim to be animal lover will not do such things? Mmm I really don’t think you can! Proof me wrong?
This is a classic example of “No True Scotsman” Fallacy…this argument flaws!

You say: “Many are vegetarians (referring to Animal Lovers). Those who do eat animal meat have fought for more humane methods of slaughtering of animals”

I ask: again a blanket statement: Would you like to back up your claim that many of the animal lovers are vegetarians?
So animal meat slaughtered with more humane methods is acceptable to you? And is humane slaughtering of Farm cats for food acceptable to you?

You Quote me < Make animals drug addicts , use animals as cheap labour, skinned animals for our fashsion desire >
Reply # Animal lovers and animal rights groups have for a long time fought against the use of animals in testing of drugs and also against the killing of animals for their fur #

I say: Would you be very sure that all animal lovers and those claim to be animal lovers has fought against the use of animal for testing drug and also against the killing of animals for their fur? And never wear animal skinned /leather too? Mmmm I don’t think so? Proof me wrong?

You Quote me < Why killing of these animals for whatever reason is OK with you and mass killing of cats is a no no to you >
Reply # Animal lovers had never condoned the killing of animals other than farm animals. Even then they had always fought for more humane methods of slaughtering farm animals. Many of them have become vegetarians or minimize their intake of meat #

I say: So killing of farm animal is ok while killing of cats is not OK, why? Why marginalize Farm animals as food? You have again claims that many of the animal lovers becomes vegetarians? Would you like to back up your claims?

You Quote me < What about rats, are they not animals Why marginalize them as pests>
Reply # Rats are known to carry the bacteria which causes "Leptospirosis" a serious, potentially fatal illness which can be easily spread to humans. Rats also spread "Bubonic Plague" Nevertheless, I know of people who keep rats and mice as pets. You can keep a rat as a pet if you bring it to a Vet. and have it certified disease free.#

I ask: Since rats too can be pets, why marginalize them? Why allow others to mass kill them? Cats too are known to carry diseases which too could be fatal? Why save the cats and kill the rats if you say you love animals?

Dear Perimondeo, I don’t think I tar all human race by bring to attentions human active participation in killing of animals… these are facts and are still on going! These are reality that human have to accept… If you are seriously concern like the particular reader who say “A life is a life, be it cats or human” then I do think this kind of passion must be across the board for all animals since “A life is a Life” as s/he claimed.

Ok buddy, lets put things in perspective.

1. Maternal aggression

Neutering= no kittens. No kittens to protect= no maternal aggression. In any case, I have not heard of anyone being savaged by a raging mother cat.

2. Territorial aggression

This is most prevalent in unneutered toms. The aggression in this case is usually directed at other cats, not people. Sterilization will greatly reduce territorial behaviors as well as the tom cat's urge to roam and pick fights. I have no doubt castration will reduce violent urges in human males as well.

3. Toxoplasmosis

You have a higher chance of getting this disease from raw or undercooked meat than from some passing cat. Do you handle cat faeces regularly? No? Then you are fairly safe. Physicians advise pregnant women not to handle kitty litter to prevent harm to the fetus. You will not get Toxo from casual contact with random cats.

4. Rabies

AVA website:

"Singapore has been free from rabies since 1953. To ensure that Singapore continues to be free from rabies, the AVA requires all imported cats and dogs (unless they are from rabies free countries) to be vaccinated against rabies and quarantined for at least 30 days in the Jurong Animal Quarantine Station on arrival."

Diseases such as rabies don't just pop out of the woodwork. Unless a natural reservoir such as wild bats still exists unnoticed, your chances of contracting this disease in Singapore are virtually nonexistent.

5. Tetanus

Were you given your Tetanus jab in primary school? Yes?... Anyway cats are not natural hosts for the pathogen which comes from the soil and enters a host through puncture wounds, usually in the feet.

6. Avian influenza

Firstly, there is no bird flu in Singapore. Unless you find unusually large numbers of wild birds falling dead there is little cause for alarm. In most human cases the victims had very close contact with infected chickens or people ie. handling sick birds, gutting poultry, raw meat etc. Cats here are not fed on raw chicken while the chances of contracting H5N1 from a passing wild bird is remote.

Anyway,

"Reports from Germany of a cat found dead due to a highly pathogenic avian influenza virus infection have fueled concerns about the risk this emerging virus poses to cats and, subsequently, to the people who care for them. Can cats catch the bird flu? These reports, along with recent studies, say "yes." But might it also be possible for cats to get the flu from us- or for humans to get the flu from cats? The short answer is "no." None of the known strains of influenza virus are transmissible between cats and people."

-Cornell University of Veterinary Medicine

8. Cat scratch Fever

Is not a serious condition unless you are immunocompromised.(those with HIV/AIDs, undergoing organ transplants etc). Prevention is simple:

" * Avoid "rough play" with cats, especially kittens. This includes any activity that may lead to cat scratches and bites.
* Wash cat bites and scratches immediately and thoroughly with running water and soap.
* Do not allow cats to lick open wounds that you may have.
* Control fleas.
* If you develop an infection (with pus and pronounced swelling) where you were scratched or bitten by a cat or develop symptoms, including fever, headache, swollen lymph nodes, and fatigue, contact your physician."

http://www.cdc.gov/healthypets/diseases/catscratch.htm

For that matter I have been scratched numerous times by cats and never contracted any disease. Yes, not all cats are friendly; some can be quite temperamental. It's not difficult to avoid getting bitten or scratched though. Watch for the signs of hostility: Arched back, hissing, rapidly twitching tail. If in doubt, dont touch. It's not that difficult really.

Managing stray cats in East Coast Park is no good.enough. They are be completely be eliminated. Stray cats are nusiance causing and an great health hazardous to people who go there to eat, play and have fun especially those agreesive stray cats see many chasing after small kids. Alsio make the place stinky with urine and faecees. AVA must stop this stray cat problems.

Dear nutto666
To put things in right perpestive… I do hope you can!
1. Maternal aggression: Neutering all cats easier say than done, at the interim what to you suggest?
2. Territorial aggression: Again Neutering? See above, by the way would you like to back up with facts that territorial aggression not against people?
3. How about Redirected aggression? What do you suggest?
4. How about Cat in Pain from medical/physical conditions could display aggressive behaviors? What do you suggest?
5. Regarding Toxoplasmosis… you may want to know that it does not just limits to faeces alone including stools stuck on cats fur, areas where stools is if not clean adequately etc…
6. How about Bartonella henselae which is responsible in causing bacillary angiomatosis (formation of masses of abnormal blood and lymph vessels), endocarditis (infection of the lining of the heart), chronic lymphadomegally (enlarged lymph nodes), and pyogranulomatous lymphadenitis, better known as cat scratch disease.
Therefore it is not true that it is not a serious condition unless you are immunocompromised.(those with HIV/AIDs, undergoing organ transplants etc).
7. As for Aviant Flu, you can see the links:
http://www.cdc.gov/ncidod/eid/vol12no04/05-1396.htm
“This study is the first to report entire H5N1 genome sequences in a naturally infected domestic cat in Thailand, although experimental infection by H5N1 in domestic cats has been reported. The case of H5N1 in a cat was reported during the early H5N1 outbreaks in Thailand in February 2004. The likely route of infection was eating an infected pigeon carcass. Our study confirmed H5N1 infection in pigeon carcasses from the same area. In our study, both H5N1 isolates from the cat and the pigeon displayed characteristics identical to H5N1 isolates from the epidemic in Thailand. Moreover, genetic comparison indicated that the virus isolated from the cat (KU-02) was more similar to the H5N1 viruses from early 2004 (Ti-1 and Leo-1) than those from late 2004 (CU-T3 and CU-23).
Our results demonstrated that domestic cats are also at risk for H5N1 infection. Clinical signs and pathologic test results of the cat in this study are similar to those of an experimental study by Kuiken et al. conducted in 2004. Cats are companion animals and may live in very close contact with humans. Although no direct transmission of H5N1 from cats to humans has been reported, it is possible; therefore, cats in H5N1-endemic areas should be scrutinized. In Felidae, such as tigers and cats, probable horizontal transmission of H5N1 within the same species has been found. However, the risk for transmission from poultry to humans is probably much higher because poultry outnumber cats and excrete higher titers of the H5N1 virus. Hence, monitoring domestic animals for infection during H5N1 outbreak is recommended.”

We do have Pigeon don’t we?

8. Tetanus: You may want to know that the Anti-Tetanus jab will last you about 10year… what next? What about elderly? What about young children?

Had Neutering programs such as SCRS been successful in reducing stray population?
From 1998 till 2003- Five years evaluation, see link
http://www.ava.gov.sg/NR/rdonlyres/E...3/attach49.pdf
“The SCRS was established in 1998 as a voluntary community-based
scheme. It was supposed to control the population of stray cats.
AVA has met with the 16 Town Councils to obtain their feedback on
their experience with the SCRS. Unfortunately, the SCRS did not
resolve the problem of strays in their estates. Some of the problems
encountered by the Town Councils include:
a) food left behind by feeders has led to pest problems;
b) cat defaecation in common areas dirtied the environment;
c) Town Councils have had to clean up food and cat wastes;
d) number of stray cats and complaints about cats has not been
reduced, and in some areas, actually increased.”

nutto666,

Aiyah, just today no bird flu do not mean no bird flu come tomorrow.
You think bird flu go to Jurong Animal Quarantine station to ask for approval to come in mieh?
Once got stratched by a stray cat and to go for tetanus jab bercause arm pain and swollen.
If that stupid cat have eat bird with bird flu, I will die die man.
Prevention is better than curing, do'nt you know?

You're talking about a 1 in a million chance(or even less). By that logic, we should also eliminate all birds, all dogs and cats and all humans since all these animals are capable of contracting the bird flu virus. Why target only cats? Hell, why not get rid of all chickens too since they are the primary source of infection? (Oh wait, because people would rather risk bird flu than curb their insatiable desire for meat. Too bad.)

And regarding cat scratch fever: In most cases the disease is relatively benign and is easily treated. Those things you mentioned such as infection of the heart lining are possible, but rare complications. Take the common cold for example. In most people it does not cause more than a little discomfort, but in some cases complications such as pneumonia and bronchitis can develop, and in rare cases, can even be deadly. Does this mean that the common cold is a killer disease?

Yes, some domestic animals do indeed carry pathogens that can be spread to humans, but realistically speaking you are far more likely to contract a disease from the person sitting next to you on the bus than from the stray cat that brushed against you at the bus stop. How many more people do you come into contact with daily as opposed to cats? How much more time do you spend interacting with people? How many more potential diseases can be spread from human to human as opposed to from cat to human? What are the odds?

Face it. You are far more likely to get hit by a car or run over by a bus than get attacked by a random rampaging tom cat, contract a serious infection and die. Most people would understand this, unless you are a germ-phobic hypochondriac who wishes to live in a sterile bubble. In that case there is nothing I can say that would convince you.

And yes, I have many cats. I have observed territorial aggression. and it has never been directed towards humans. In most cases, cats seem to consider humans property, not rivals. Do you have a cat?

cutthecrap: You advocated for stray cats be HUMANELY killed should their population exploded.

I would also propose the same for humans too, should the world be overpopulated. Since planet Earth no longer have the means to provide human beings.

So you reckon that YOU a human being -- or using the scientific term HOMO SAPIEN -- is a far superior being who deserves to LIVE? Whereas stray cats are lesser beings? Many of which are strays DUE TO ABANDONMENT BY THEIR HUMAN MASTERS? Who in fact are more deserving of being neutered. Not to mention, KILLED.

Your arguments about cats are fair. But you have gone on and on that you no longer makes any sense. You kept attacking anyone who represent their cases by insisting that cats are disease carriers. So much so that YOU A FAR SUPERIOR BEING aka HOMO SAPIEN are so afraid of catching.

So HUMAN BEINGS are disease or even virus free then by your inferences?

Let me tell you something. Cats and dogs are more compassionate creatures than humans. Some of these strays which are severely BEATEN and ABUSED by THE FAR SUPERIOR BEINGS CALLED HOMO SAPIENS for no f*cking rhyme or reason are so forgiving in spirit. That they never lose their TRUST in humans.

Although many, sadly, avoid human contact at all costs.

Grow a compassion. And I suggest YOU VISIT the CAT WELFARE and some cat rescue blogs to see THOSE ABUSED CAT PICTURES. If you not even moved by how some stray cats are amputated because their limbs are so severely beaten, I'd say God bless You.