A wild cat relaxes on a rock at Mount Bukhan against the background of western Seoul on Jan. 27, 2021. (Yonhap)
SEOUL, March 14 (Korea Bizwire) — The issue of street cats has long been a contentious one in South Korea.
Those who continue to feed or make homes for them, affectionately called “cat moms” or “cat dads,” often find themselves at odds with residents who despise the animals.
Residents claim that the cats create noise disturbances and leave behind food waste.
Recent disputes have centered around vehicle damage caused by street cats. Scratches on cars parked near feeding sites and engine malfunctions resulting from cats seeking warmth have resulted in property damage for residents.
Street cats in South Korea have a significantly shorter lifespan of two to three years compared to the 15 years that domesticated cats typically live.
Street cats pick up rotten food and are exposed to various diseases, leading to early death. Additionally, their territorial homes continue to be destroyed and reversed by humans, leaving them in a state of constant stress.
Moreover, the high number of street cats that die from accidents on roads and highways is concerning.
As street cats fall between the categories of wild and domesticated animals, it is vital to minimize conflicts between caretakers and residents.
To ensure that street cats and humans can coexist, proper feeding arrangements and trap-neuter-return (TNR) programs are necessary to control the population.
This file photo on Sept. 9, 2021 shows a stray cat resting in a street of Seoul. (Yonhap)
To address the issue, the Ministry of Agriculture, Food and Rural Affairs announced on Sunday that it will establish a consultative body in the first half of the year.
The group will include animal protection groups, veterinarians, and local governments to improve TNR initiatives and the welfare of street cats.
The ministry will also develop surgical guidelines and standards for post-neutering treatment to increase the expertise of street cat neutering surgeons.
Veterinarians will be required to undergo training for neutering surgeries annually, and hospitals with excellent street cat neutering surgery programs will be designated.
In addition, the ministry plans to create “Guidelines for Street Cat Care” as a social standard for caring for street cats and to improve the TNR project guidelines through a full survey of local governments.
Currently, it is estimated that over one million street cats reside in South Korea. As territorial animals, street cats will continue to seek more comfortable living conditions, making it impossible to remove them entirely.
While it is necessary to manage the population, it is crucial to foster a better understanding and acceptance of street cats and caretakers on the street.
Lina Jang (linajang@koreabizwire.com)
