Incheon’s Proposed Stray Cat Feeding Station Sparks Debate Among Residents

Cats typically have a lifespan of 10 to 15 years, with some living up to 20 years or more. However, the average life expectancy of a stray or feral cat is only 3-5 years due to various factors such as road accidents, human cruelty, malnutrition, illnesses, and injuries from territorial conflicts.
Stray (or Street) cats often rely on consuming human waste as a source of food, which can have high levels of salt that are detrimental to their health. Additionally, access to clean water is limited, especially during the winter months when water sources freeze, making it more challenging for them to survive and increasing the risk of contracting diseases. (Image credit: Kobiz Media)

INCHEON, April 16 (Korea Bizwire) —A proposal by the local government of Incheon to establish a feeding station for stray cats in a public park has triggered a contentious debate among residents. The plan, which is currently under consideration, would involve the selection of a park in Sangok-dong for a three-month pilot program slated to begin next month.

In response to conflicts that have arisen between “cat moms” who feed stray cats and some park-goers, Incheon’s Bupyeong-gu has designated the situation as a “priority conflict management target” and has opted to take direct control of the matter. To fund the establishment of this and other feeding centers, Bupyeong-gu has set aside a budget of 1.8 million won this year.

Each feeding center will be allocated 450,000 won, and an expansion policy will be implemented if deemed necessary following the pilot program. While proponents of the plan argue that an official feeding center, coupled with a stray cat neutering project, would allow humans and cats to coexist at a low cost, opponents have expressed concern that such a center would compromise the park’s aesthetic and pose a risk of damage to the surrounding area due to the presence of stray cats and their accompanying sounds and odors.

“We have been neutering and caring for stray cats since 2019, but we lacked a stable place to feed them,” stated Jeong Mo, a Bupyeong-gu resident. “An official feeding center would allow us to manage stray cats in a safer and more hygienic way.” However, one resident criticized the project as wasteful of taxpayer money and contrary to Bupyeong-gu’s neutering efforts to control the stray cat population.

Bupyeong-gu will determine whether to proceed with the project after the pilot program by evaluating the operation of the feeding center and soliciting feedback from residents. An official from Bupyeong-gu stated, “If we implement systematic management after installing public feeding centers, we can resolve current complaints about the temporary feeding centers. We will work alongside the cat moms to regularly inspect and monitor the site.”

A stray cat looks at a burnt mountain as a wildfire in the western part of Hongseong-gun, Chungcheongnam-do, continues for more than eight hours at 11 a.m. on April 2. (Image courtesy of Yonhap)

Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)