BRISTOL--A public hearing is planned in Bristol next Thursday to discuss a growing population of stray cats in the city.
City leaders said they first realized a widespread issue of feral cats at the Bonnie Acres public housing complex.
Residents have been warned not to feed the cats so that volunteer groups can try to isolate them instead by putting out shelters and food in a specific area.
The plan is to trap the cats, then fix them before releasing them. It is part of a citywide plan to curb the stray cat population.
"We forecast that there could be between 3,000 to 5,000 cats in town that are considered community cats, that may or may not be feral, but are not being cared for by families," city Councilwoman Ellen Zoppo-Sassu (D) said.
Zoppo-Sassu said Bristol must be proactive about feral cats to help avoid any possibility of a public health issue.
