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Cat (still) in the garden: No more free passage until August
Photo: Michael Breuer / IMAGO
That was it with life as a free roamer: cats in the south of the Baden-Württemberg town of Walldorf are no longer allowed to leave the house until August 31st.
The reason: The Rhine-Neckar district wants to better protect the crested lark, which is threatened with extinction, during their breeding season.
The general decree of the Lower Nature Conservation Authority Rhein-Neckar-Kreis came into effect on Tuesday.
There it says, with reference to the Walldorf Süd area of application: “From now until August 31 inclusive, and thereafter – until 2025 – in the period from April 1st to August 31 inclusive, cats that are within the scope of this The crested lark breeds between April and August.
If cat owners let their pets outside despite the order, they face a fine of 500 euros.
If a house cat injures or kills a crested lark, it could even result in a fine of 50,000 euros.
Every young bird counts
The reason given is that the crested lark is threatened with extinction.
There are only three breeding pairs left in Walldorf, and there is a “very high risk of extinction” for the local population.
Despite measures in recent years, the crested larks are not adequately protected.
The high density of free-roaming cats in the area poses a threat to the birds, according to the decree.
In particular, flightless young birds would fall victim to cats again and again.
But "the survival of each individual young bird is important for the survival of the species."
The animals should now be safer thanks to the house arrest for cats.
However, there could be exceptions or alternatives for some cats:
If owners can prove that their cat lives in the area of validity, but does not run through the breeding area of crested larks, they can apply for permission to go outside.
According to the decree, it is also possible to walk the cat on a short leash.
The "Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung" reports that the district proposes bringing cats to friends or relatives who do not live in the area of the cat ban by August 31.
Mayor supports cats
The city of Walldorf can apparently do nothing against the order.
"Our hands are tied," said Mayor Matthias Renschler (FDP) of the "Rhein-Neckar-Zeitung".
He understands the cat owners, he knows what it means when the cat has to be locked up for two days: "They go to the wallpaper or the sofa, locking them up for several months, I think is unrealistic."
It is also questionable how the curfew will be controlled.
According to the newspaper, a district spokesman said that employees of a specialist office checked the stock of crested larks.
You should then also be on the lookout for cats and possibly track where the four-legged friends are coming from.
ptz
