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Blackburn Rovers using traps to keep cats off pitch

10:13am Wednesday 17th June 2009 in


BLACKBURN Rovers groundstaff have been setting traps at Ewood Park in a bid to give the red card to cats fouling on the pitch.

Cat lovers said they were upset by the club’s actions which they felt could cause undue stress to beloved pets.

But Ewood Park bosses said they had to stop cats messing up the pitch and stands.

They said any animal with a collar on would be returned to its owner straight away.

Maureen Savage, who runs Moggies Cat Rescue, Darwen, said cats without a collar were being taken to a vet in Colne, more than 15 miles away, where they were scanned for microchips.

She said: “You can’t just trap cats and cart them off to the vet’s because they happen to go on Blackburn Rovers’ land. It is a heavy-handed way to do it.”

She said the club should have advised local residents to fit their pets with a quick-release collar before starting the crackdown.

It is thought the animals are lured into cages by the smell of food, but once in the trap they could not escape.

A Rovers spokesman said: “When feral cats have caused problems in the stadium, we have engaged a specialist company for advice on the best and most humane solutions.

“These have been isolated cases and we have no such issues at this time.”

But Margaret Whittaker, 88, of Bolton Road, Blackburn, said she would not let Teddy, her black tomcat, out of the house in case he got stuck in a trap.

She said: “You would have thought the club would have let residents know that they were catching cats at the stadium.

“I’ve lived here for more than 40 years and have never heard of this before.

"It would cause the cats a lot of stress and I’d be very worried if Teddy got caught in one of these traps.”

Terry Lawson, 72, also of Bolton Road, said he was not overly concerned for his cat, Sooty.

He added: “I hope that Rovers are doing the right thing with these cats and handing them back to their owners.

“I can see why it would worry some cat owners because they are so close to their pets.”

A spokesman for Colne-based Harvey Environmental Services Ltd confirmed the firm did do some work for Blackburn Rovers but the details were confidential.

He said most cats had microchips. When a domestic cat was trapped it would be released, he added.

Comments(36)

hasslem hasslem says...
10:38am Wed 17 Jun 09

Is this a reference to Sunderland?

Have to say I don't normally complain about no-news days, but this is scraping the barrell.


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pip-pip says...
11:14am Wed 17 Jun 09

We could do with a few more initiatives like this. It would reduce the death toll of our garden singbirds and reduce those well hidden little parcels when you are hand weeding. Poo bags for cat owners, that's what I say!!

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jinkyjase says...
11:14am Wed 17 Jun 09

My whippet will soon sort these foul little beasts out, he'd make short work of 'em! Free to hire.

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Tiger Lily says...
12:08pm Wed 17 Jun 09

I lost two cats from Nuttall Street a month ago. Blackburn Rovers have been far from helpful with this matter despite several phone calls from myself. Indeed one person I spoke to denied all knowledge!

It is a bit of a coincidence how two of my cats (one of which I've had for 6 years) went missing at the same time that the rovers employed a pest control company!

Well at least the terraces are clean it's just a shame that fact does nothing to console my 12 year old son who is heartbroken over the losses.

Thanks to Maureen for investigating this matter obviously people's pets mean nothing to the rovers!

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midas says...
1:44pm Wed 17 Jun 09

Under what legislation are they trapping someones property and sending it to Colne? Whose checking up on thier actions to ensure they aren't just bagged and dumped in the canal?

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DavidBurnley says...
1:48pm Wed 17 Jun 09

Anyone who knows anything about cats knows that they naturally wander around what they see it ehir territory. They will seek out safe places to spend their time. An empty football ground is perfect from a cat's point of view.

If Blackburn Rovers want to prevent this then they should improve the boundaries of their ground to prevent access. This shows no empathy with local residents that are pet owners and the actions of the club is likely to cause distress to local people and increase tension between the club and residents.

I would have thought that it was hard work enough on match days living close to a large football ground - should the club not recgnise the sacrifice of local residents by acting a bit more reasonably about what is a small issue?!

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he6rt6gr6m says...
1:55pm Wed 17 Jun 09

Has to be done. I have two cats, and if either of them were going into another persons GARDEN, much less the stadium, theyd get locked in the house with a litter tray.

Luckily, they are house cats anyway. Might be time to start looking at ways to make Ewood inaccessable to cats. Spikes and stuff like that on fences.

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Robbie says...
3:12pm Wed 17 Jun 09

all the cat owners complaining.. post your address and i will pop around and i will pass motion on your land and see how you like it.


you wont like it and you would complain! and do something to stop it!

keep your pets under control or dont have them

simple!

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DavidBurnley says...
3:55pm Wed 17 Jun 09

Robbie - cats are not animals to be kept in a locked house or confined in a small garden - you obviously don't understand that. What next - get farmers to stop their sheep and cows from going to the loo outside - or would you prefer to open young offender institutes for naughty rabbits and foxes that don't do their business where you would like them to?

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hasslem hasslem says...
4:05pm Wed 17 Jun 09

DavidBurnley wrote:
Robbie - cats are not animals to be kept in a locked house or confined in a small garden - you obviously don't understand that. What next - get farmers to stop their sheep and cows from going to the loo outside - or would you prefer to open young offender institutes for naughty rabbits and foxes that don't do their business where you would like them to?
not appropriate comparison at all. Sheep do their stuff in farmer's field.

however, if i let my dog run around in farmer's field regardless of whether the dog chases sheep, or not....then farmer is entitled to shoot dog.

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DavidBurnley says...
4:19pm Wed 17 Jun 09

hasslem - not an appropriate comparison either is it? No one is talking about dogs running around fields doing anything. Dogs need to be escorted when they are out for walks by their owner - not so with cats. I'm just pointing out that suggesting cleaning up after your cat is probably impossible as they are out on their own. Owners of propert are at course at liberty to 'secure their borders' to prevent unwanted intruders - and of course that would include the plethora of wildlife at large in the UK that have no human 'owners' but still poo!

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Soggy Moggies says...
4:40pm Wed 17 Jun 09

I agree - residents should have been informed that cats were to be captured at Ewood Park. Capturing people's pets in this way is outrageous. Imagine being locked in a cage for hours on end in the pouring rain, alone, hungry, frightened, confused, anxious, distressed. We must be the cats' voice and stop such cruelty. What has happened to the missing cats? Thanks to the Telegraph and Maureen for speaking up for our much loved moggies.

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jinkyjase says...
4:53pm Wed 17 Jun 09

As an owner of three dogs I am, quite rightly, responsible if one of my muts decides to foul a public highway or field, so I clean up after them. Therefore Rovers should drag the relevant cat owners by the ear across Bolton Road into Ewood, hand them a plastic bag and any other relevant health and safety nonsense and make them clear it up. Sorted. I think we'd then see a steady decline in the amount of pet cats around Ewood.

Personally I can't stand the little bleeders. They're indiscriminate in where they crap, they kill anything for no good reason and have staff not owners. What's the point of them?

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midas says...
4:55pm Wed 17 Jun 09

Soggy Moggies wrote:
I agree - residents should have been informed that cats were to be captured at Ewood Park. Capturing people's pets in this way is outrageous. Imagine being locked in a cage for hours on end in the pouring rain, alone, hungry, frightened, confused, anxious, distressed. We must be the cats' voice and stop such cruelty. What has happened to the missing cats? Thanks to the Telegraph and Maureen for speaking up for our much loved moggies.
For a second I thought you were talking about the Rovers fans on a match day!

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Soggy Moggies says...
4:58pm Wed 17 Jun 09

the person catching these cats should be caught themselves and throw away the key!! HOW CRUEL!!!!

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hasslem hasslem says...
5:54pm Wed 17 Jun 09

So, to all the cat-lovers out there.

I buy a cat and call it my pet. I let it out to "roam" at all times day and night.

I let it c**p anywhere it choses including neighbours' gardens, other public and private areas.

I let it kill all sorts of wildlife that I would be reported to RSPCA if I did the same.

I accept no responsibility whatsoever for it's actions....but moan like topsy when people complain that my cat is ruining their property and claim that they are cruel.

TOSH! Vermin the lot of them. Get them in a tennis racket.

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Morst the 88th min Heartbreaker of Dingles! says...
5:54pm Wed 17 Jun 09

Perhaps we could at least s"Cat"ter their ashes on Ewood for you?

And never trust anyone called Savage at the Rovers!

31st........

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Soggy Moggies says...
6:05pm Wed 17 Jun 09

Okay. Make a joke and have a good laugh about it if you think it's funny! But don't forget, there are a number of people living in Ewood, old and young, who are very upset about losing their cats.

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Akki says...
6:10pm Wed 17 Jun 09

hasslem hasslem wrote:
So, to all the cat-lovers out there. I buy a cat and call it my pet. I let it out to "roam" at all times day and night. I let it c**p anywhere it choses including neighbours' gardens, other public and private areas. I let it kill all sorts of wildlife that I would be reported to RSPCA if I did the same. I accept no responsibility whatsoever for it's actions....but moan like topsy when people complain that my cat is ruining their property and claim that they are cruel. TOSH! Vermin the lot of them. Get them in a tennis racket.
100% spot on

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Soggy Moggies says...
6:35pm Wed 17 Jun 09

To all the cat-haters out there! As far as I know, it is legal for cats in our country to roam. Yes, cats do do their business just as we do ours. Cats kill wildlife, usually mice and small birds. This is nature. Some people kill cats. This is a crime. Domestic cats do not kill people.

Maybe people with a certain attitude belong in a tennis racket - not the cats!

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Morst the 88th min Heartbreaker of Dingles! says...
7:08pm Wed 17 Jun 09

Now who's getting Catty!

I just put that Cat-off stuff down - they soon find somewhere else to sh*te then - perhaps Rovers should try it?

Soggy - a Blackadder humour does tend to be required on here!

31st.....

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Soggy Moggies says...
7:17pm Wed 17 Jun 09

That Cat-off stuff does sound like a good idea. Maybe you should drop them a line and suggest it to them.

Not sure about the Blackadder humour though. Never did understand that programme.

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Ess says...
7:31pm Wed 17 Jun 09

So it's alright for cats to sh*t all over the place but you get a heavy fine if your dog should dare to do it in the street? Sounds like a bad case of double standards to me.

If one of them craps on my seat I won't be best pleased!

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Soggy Moggies says...
7:59pm Wed 17 Jun 09

If a cat craps on your seat, just get your dog to eat it! I believe dogs love to do crazy things like that - eat cats' faeces.

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grumpyoldlady says...
8:14pm Wed 17 Jun 09

Cats have become so domesticated that they no longer bother to cover their business with soil, they just do it in the middle of my lawn! They have destroyed a nest of great tits by attacking the parents and recently killed a blackbird in my garden. I love to have the birds in my garden, but I do not want the cats. Why do I have to put up with other people's cats? There are far too many domestic cats now and they are causing a decline in songbirds. It is not as though they kill for food, you just find the poor bird left behind. Every cat should at least wear a bell round its neck to give the birds a chance.

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Soggy Moggies says...
8:34pm Wed 17 Jun 09

To Grumpyoldlady,

Morst the 88th min Heartbreaker of Dingles from Accrigton had a good idea - buy some Cat-off stuff to repel the unwanted cats.

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hasslem hasslem says...
9:38pm Wed 17 Jun 09

Soggy Moggies wrote:
To Grumpyoldlady, Morst the 88th min Heartbreaker of Dingles from Accrigton had a good idea - buy some Cat-off stuff to repel the unwanted cats.
Anyway Mrs Slowcombe,

Why should somebody have to buy summat to keep your cats from making a mess in her garden.

Keep your cats under control. You whould have an ASBO if you couldn't keep your kids under control. Same for cats. VERMIN

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stealer says...
10:07pm Wed 17 Jun 09

TigerLily,I presume
you spoke to BFS he would be the person
with no knowledge!
If anyone has their
cat trapped and returned after it has been 'scanned',
receive it back with thanks and then sue BRFC!
It is illegal to trap
domestic animals and
some wild animals/birds.

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Robbie says...
12:50pm Thu 18 Jun 09

DavidBurnley wrote:
Robbie - cats are not animals to be kept in a locked house or confined in a small garden - you obviously don't understand that. What next - get farmers to stop their sheep and cows from going to the loo outside - or would you prefer to open young offender institutes for naughty rabbits and foxes that don't do their business where you would like them to?
sheep and cows dont go onto someone elses land to do their buisness.. idoit

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DavidBurnley says...
2:49pm Thu 18 Jun 09

But foxes, badgers, birds, mice, rats etc do - and being called an idiot for expressing ones opinion shows you up for what you are. Try a mirror mate before you start slinging insults and you might think twice given what you could potentially get slung back at you!

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Soggy Moggies says...
8:30pm Thu 18 Jun 09

Let's get back to the point, guys. Cats have rights and they have the right to poo! If they poo in your garden, then that's too bad. People do not have the right to terrorise cats for doing their business.

We still do not know whether the captured cats were returned to their owners, as stated. There are still a few missing so maybe they were put to sleep for pooing. This needs to be investigated.

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Fairykate says...
9:41pm Thu 18 Jun 09

Maybe Blackburn Rovers need to heed their own advice and keep a tighter rein on their own pets - ie the fans. Every match day sees them descend in their droves, parking their cars indiscriminately, causing obstructions, littering, swearing, spitting... need I go on? So, if Blackburn Rovers can terrorise resident's pets, does this mean that I can do the same to their pets? Can I then, every time I am inconvenienced by inconsiderate parking on match days, exact my revenge by sticking a knife in their tyres or running my key down the side of the offending vehicle, or run over every 'pet' that walks out in front of my car or shouts obscenities in the form of a 'rousing football song' or better still, can I get them put in a cage and sent to Colne? Of course I would never do such a thing,(except maybe the putting in a cage and sending to Colne) but that's because I am tolerant and respectful of other people's property and feelings. I would, however, without a second thought, stick all cat haters in a big cauldron, boil them until tender and feed them to all the Blackburn Rovers bosses in the form of a giant meat pie. Ha!

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The offspring says...
8:37am Fri 19 Jun 09

Can anyone tell me why the police dont clean up after their horses?,and why they turn a blind eye to football fans using the side of my house as a urinal?

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Cat lover!! says...
5:40pm Fri 19 Jun 09

Now we have two against one, i totally agree with soggy moggies, of course cats have rights! the only difference between humans and cats is that cats have fur!
i think your attitude STINKS!
i cannot believe you're calling soggy selfish when you only care about yourself, you obviously don't know the meaning of the word.

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Soggy Moggies says...
12:33pm Sat 20 Jun 09

Ok, if you want to be seroius, tell me, why do you hate moggies so much?

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davey boy says...
4:31pm Mon 22 Jun 09

THEY KEEP TAKING MY COMMENT OFF I HAVE WROTE THIS 5 TIMES NOW, ALL I WANT TO SAY IS I WAS JOKING!! U ARE SOO GULABLE!! HA HO HE!!

NOW I BEST SAY SOMETHING CONSTRUCTIVE SO THEY KEEP MY COMMENT ON BOARD

I THINK CATS ARE SOO CUTE AND ARE NOT VERMIN I LOVE THEM AND DONT DESERVE TO BE KILLED!! AWWW

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