Alarming note threatens to trap cats in Antioch

ANTIOCH, Calif. (KGO) -- In the East Bay, an animal rescue group is worried someone may be trying to trap and harm cats ahead of the Halloween weekend.

Susan Smith traps, neuters and returns feral cats for the Homeless Animal Response Program. It's all in an effort to curb Antioch's feral cat problem. The number of feral cats is estimated to be in the hundreds of thousands, but someone may be taking matters into their own hands.

A flier was put into people's mailboxes warning of cat trappings in the Gentrytown neighborhood of Antioch.

The note looks like it is from the city of Antioch's Animal Services department and had their address and phone number printed on the them. However, Antioch Animal Services says they are not involved in creating these fliers. That leaves the legitimate animal organizations to worry about who is trapping cats.

Smith says it is illegal to trap, relocate, and abandon cats.

HARP is creating a contract with the city to properly deal with the feral cat population. The issue goes before council on Nov. 10.