Throw them in the river: Fort Saskatchewan mayor apologizes for feral cat remarks – Edmonton [Video]

The mayor of Fort Saskatchewan has apologized after she mused about the “old days” of managing feral cats on her family’s farm by throwing them in the river or gassing them with a car’s exhaust pipe.

Gale Katchur said in a Thursday statement her comments fell short of her city’s values of compassion, respect and care, and that she plans to make sure the city’s approach to managing animal populations is humane and responsible.

“I sincerely apologize for the remarks and any hurt they may have caused,” she said.

Councillors discussed the city’s feral cats at a Tuesday committee meeting.

Protective Services officer Ben Sharpe said there were only 11 calls about them over the last six years. Within the last three years, he said only three cats per year have been reported as feral.

After hearing solutions that included euthanizing, neutering or kennelling the felines, Katchur said it would be “interesting” if …