Rats Beware: NIles Police Piloting Feral Cat Program To Adress Rodent Problems

NILES, IL — Officials in Niles have had enough of rats and rodents in the village, so much so they're sending cats out on a mission to fix the issue. As part of a joint effort between the police department and the Village of Niles Community Development Department, a new program to address the problem will soon be rolled out.

Five feral cats will be released in the 7800 block of N. Nordica Avenue for a two-month trial period. As feral cats are natural predators of rodents, the hope is their presence in the neighborhood will drive rats and other pests away, according to a news release.

A resident in the neighborhood has volunteered to provide food and shelter for the cats. An animal control officer also provided the resident with a resource to have the cats spayed and neutered.

After the two months, if the program proves to be a success, officials said it may expand it to other parts of the village. The police department will evaluate the program's effectiveness based on feedback from residents and rodent complaint statistics.