The South Gyeongsang Province city of Changwon has announced plans to run a number of public feeding stations for stray cats this year. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
CHANGWON, Jan. 15 (Korea Bizwire) — The South Gyeongsang Province city of Changwon has announced plans to run a number of public feeding stations for stray cats this year, aiming to alleviate conflicts surrounding their care.
From January until December, the city intends to set up and manage feeding stations at 50 locations within the Changwon area.
These stations will be established in areas deemed suitable by the city, including public institutions, parks, apartments, and schools. Following a successful pilot program that began last July at Samjeongja Park in Seongsan District, the city decided to expand the initiative.
This pilot demonstrated that public feeding stations could reduce conflicts over stray cat care while promoting coexistence.
From January until December, the city intends to set up and manage feeding stations at 50 locations within the Changwon area. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
Traditionally, volunteers, often referred to as ‘cat moms,’ have been feeding stray cats at various locations throughout the city. This practice, however, has led to complaints from residents to city officials about issues such as noise from cat cries, odors, and litter, which negatively affect the city’s appearance.
The introduction of public feeding stations aims to address these concerns. While respecting the intentions of those who freely provide food for the survival of stray cats, the city has created designated areas for feeding.
This year, Changwon has allocated 30 million won from the city budget for the establishment of these feeding stations. The city will identify suitable locations and provide necessary items such as feeding bowls and information signs.
The city continues to promote its trap-neuter-return (TNR) program to control the stray cat population. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)
In addition to the feeding stations, the city continues to promote its trap-neuter-return (TNR) program to control the stray cat population. Alongside these efforts, campaigns for coexisting with stray cats are also underway.
A city official commented, “Indiscriminate feeding often leads to abandoned food containers and plastic bags becoming litter. We believe that public feeding stations will help reduce odors and improve the city’s aesthetic. With the establishment of these feeding stations, we expect to take another step towards becoming an animal-friendly city.”
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
