The answer is 'no'. Most cats that are often caught and put to sleep are tame and sterilised. Non-sterilised cats remain to roam freely in the estates.

A few years back, a pest control company trapped about 30 stray felines in just a few days in an old estate to get rid of the problem. More than 80 per cent of those cats were sterilised and had lived there for more than five years. However, after two years, the problem remains - worse still, the majority of them are not sterilised.

This example shows that no matter how many felines are trapped and killed, the number that survived the ordeal to breed is unchanged. Town councils can trap and kill cats all year round, with no net effect on the feline population.

Also bear in mind that domestic cats have an incredible ability to reproduce themselves.

People need to understand that cats and dogs are animals and not pests; they have the right to live, just like humans.

The source of the problem are inconsiderate people who dump cats. To deal with the root of the problem, we need to educate owners to sterilise their pets and prevent them from further breeding.

Start with the schools. Educate schoolchildren and send the message that cats need to be neutered to lower the number of unwanted pets.

April Tan Kar Hong (Ms)