Community Corner
Does Highland Park Have a Feral Cat Problem?
Some residents think so, but city officials don't have easy answers on how to deal with the abandoned felines.
Highland Park, IL—If you're to go by the internet, everyone loves cats.
Keyboard cats. LOL cats. Grumpy cats.
But if you ask a group of Highland Park residents, they'll tell you that there's no love lost for a certain type of feline that has been plaguing city neighborhoods recently.
Find out what's happening in Highland Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Feral cats.
Residents voiced their concerns over the rise in feral cats with city officials Monday, asking them to take measures to control the population and urge other residents to stop feeding the felines, a practice that they say only attracts more of their kind, the Highland Park News reports.
Find out what's happening in Highland Parkfor free with the latest updates from Patch.
Police have seen an uptick in feral cat reports in the following areas, according to the report:
- 300 block of Dell Lane
- 2800 block of Lexington Avenue, near Parkside Drive
- 600 block of Euclid Avenue
Besides being nuisances, some residents worried about the safety risks of feral cats wandering neighborhoods unchecked, according to the News. The primary concern was the potential spread of diseases, such as rabies, especially among kids playing outside.
So what's the solution to this feral cat population problem?
RELATED: Feral Cats Could Be Used to Control Rat Problem in Evanston
Currently, residents are told to consult private animal control companies to take of problems on their property. And the city adheres to a no-kill policy in most cases dealing with domestic and wild animals, the News report stated.
That's why officials were hesitant Monday to change city protocols to address feral cats on private property, the report added. Those changes would cost the city around $5,000 annually to handle a relatively small amount of complaints, according to the News.
But maybe Highland Park should look to another North Shore community to solve its feral cat problem. Evanston officials have floated the idea of using the felines to handle a recent infestation of rats.
YOUR TURN: What do you think Highland Park should do about feral cats? Do you think it's a big enough problem for the city to address? Share your thoughts and opinions in the comments section.
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