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North Versailles residents spar over feral cat problem

Some people in North Versailles are fed up with a growing number of feral cats in their neighborhood.

At a township council meeting Thursday night, they say they are sick of the cats urinating in their streets, reproducing and killing other animals. But a cat lover says she's just helping them and believes the claims are false.

“I want them out of here,” said Gina Zomp.

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Channel 11 saw some of the cats wandering around along North Broadway Avenue.

"They're just everywhere,” said another neighbor. “On top of cars. Under cars. You have to worry about if you'll hit them or not."

Sharon Vuyanich, the cat lover and spoke at the packed meeting after she was issued a notice of code violation that she had 10 days to respond or face jail time and the possibility of a fine if she doesn't do something about the feral cats.

"Leave me alone. Leave my cats alone. They're not hurting anybody,” she said. "We care for them in the winter, in the rain. I'm over there feeding them every single day."

She's encouraging borough officials to trap, neuter and release the feral cats. However, she fears the worst.

"Killing doesn't solve anything,” Vuyanich said. “It doesn't. I believe in TNR.”

The borough solicitor said killing the cats is not an option.

"There's no exterminator coming up from the township to kill cats,” said Gregory Evashavik. “That's not something we do."

Vuyanich says she has already TNRed almost 15 cats and says this is blown out of proportion.

"Their lives matter,” she said.

Homeless cat management officials brought a petition with more than 2,000 signatures to the meeting from people who say they don’t want the cats hurt.

Vuyanich says she plans to respond to the notice and encourage trapping, neutering and releasing the cats.

 

Cox Media Group

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