During the summer and early fall of 2024, the Stewardship Centre for BC engaged with local governments to encourage education and outreach to residents and consideration of bylaws and policies to address the issue of roaming cats in the South Okanagan region of British Columbia. Three presentations were delivered:
Theresa Nolet, AlleyCat Alliance President (left), and Anna Skurkhina, Cats and Birds Project Lead with the Stewardship Centre for BC (right), met with Penticton City Council on July 16, 2024.
The South Okanagan is home to unique and critical habitats, such as grasslands that are important to many species at risk, including migratory songbirds, reptiles, bats, and other small mammals. However, thousands of feral, stray, and owned free-roaming cats threaten local biodiversity and species at risk. A recent research project conducted by an MSc student in partnership with the Stewardship Centre for BC found that nearly 100% of surveyed areas in South Okanagan had the presence of unsupervised roaming cats.
Anna Skurikhina, Cats and Birds Project Lead has diligently worked to bring the attention of city council members to the free-roaming cat issue and update animal bylaws to include cats in the South Okanagan. Communicating concerns about the well-being of outdoor cats, the cat overpopulation crisis, and the negative impacts of cats on local ecosystems and community health ensures that lawmakers understand the importance the public plays in protecting local wildlife and the value of responsible pet ownership in communities. Public education and communication between the community and local government is crucial for bylaws and policies to be effective.
On July 15, 2024, Anna Skurikhina, SCBC’s Cats and Birds Project Lead, and Theresa Nolet, AlleyCats Alliance President, co-presented at the City Council in Oliver to discuss free-roaming cats, their welfare, and their negative impacts on wildlife and community health. You can view the presentation recording online.
Councillors Petra Veintimilla and Terry Schafer were surprised to hear about the large impact outdoor cats have on protected birds and proposed a motion to review relevant bylaws in Oliver. They also showed interest in learning about policies implemented in other municipalities in British Columbia to identify the best course of action. Stewardship Centre for BC followed up with Oliver Council and shared a list of a dozen cities with existing bylaws preventing the free roaming of cats in BC. Additionally, the Stewardship Centre for BC shared a briefing note and recommendations for local governments considering cat bylaws.
Times Chronicle shared an article about the presentation and meeting proceedings.
Following the meeting with the City Council in Oliver, Theresa Nolet and Anna Skurikhina met with the Mayor and Councillors in Penticton on July 16, 2024. You can view the presentation recording online. The presentation re-emphasized the importance of education and outreach to the public about responsible pet ownership and preventing cats from running at large unsupervised.
Penticton City Council appreciated the presentation but has not yet proposed any action. Local news outlets have released several articles and a radio interview with Anna and Theresa, which shows that this issue is important to the local community (Castanet article, Penticton Herald, CBC Radio One).
On September 24, Anna Skurikhina was joined by Lori Stewart, President of the Critteraid Animal Sanctuary, to give a presentation to the District of Summerland. You can watch the recording of this presentation online.
Members of the council showed great interest in public education about the safety of owned roaming cats and their impacts on local wildlife and community health. Following the presentation, the council passed a motion to create a dedicated webpage that will inform and educate the public about the issues surrounding unsupervised outdoor cats and also committed to signing a letter of support for the Stewardship Centre for BC’s Cats and Birds project. The presentation digest was shared by local news—Penticton Harold article.
Ask your local government to take action
If you want to contact your local city council and show your support for changing municipal regulations to include roaming cats and preventing their impact on birds, bats and other animals, consider sending a letter to the Mayor. You can find a template letter on our Cats and Birds website.
