wild cat numbers surge in mariagerfjord municipality

A shelter in Mariagerfjord Municipality reports a sharp rise in complaints from residents overwhelmed by feral cats, with some properties now hosting up to 20 at a time.

Anita Sønderup, who runs the Minvenkatten shelter south of Hobro, said the population is exploding. “One cat suddenly becomes 20, and then you have a huge problem with wild cats,” she told DR.

The cats pose risks to both humans and other animals, potentially spreading diseases such as feline AIDS to domestic pets. They also scavenge through trash and disrupt residents trying to use outdoor spaces.

In the Helberskov summerhouse area, Henny Araya Rasmussen feeds the stray cats despite the risk of attracting more. “I can’t stand seeing an animal suffer. Many of them are hungry, sick, and thin,” she said. Last year, she and her neighbours contacted a cat organisation to cull the population, with sick animals euthanised and others sterilised or adopted.

Mariagerfjord Municipality says residents can call to have cats trapped and euthanised, but shelter leader Sønderup argues the local authority should do more to prevent the spread. Svend Madsen, chair of the municipality’s technical and environmental committee, maintains current measures are sufficient.

Veterinary researchers estimate around 89,000 stray cats live in Denmark.