Yorkshire Cat Feeder Faces Council Ban After Two Decades of Caring for Stray Felines
In the quiet Yorkshire town of Thurnscoe, near Barnsley, a heartfelt conflict has erupted between a compassionate animal lover and local business interests over a colony of stray cats. Colette Boler, the former owner of Milly's Cafe, has been caring for these feral felines for nearly twenty years, but now faces a council-imposed ban on feeding them.
A Bond Formed Over Two Decades
Ms. Boler, who describes herself as "cat crazy," first encountered the animals in 2007 while delivering leftover sandwiches to workers on a nearby industrial estate. What began as occasional feeding evolved into a deep connection, with the 62-year-old paying for veterinary treatments and developing such rapport that the cats would respond to her voice. The colony, once numbering around thirty, became like family to her.
"I was devastated, in tears," Ms. Boler told the Daily Mail after receiving the council warning. "They had basically been mine for almost 20 years."
The Council's Intervention
The situation changed dramatically two weeks ago when a councillor arrived at Ms. Boler's home with a community protection warning. The notice explicitly forbade her from continuing to feed the cats on public highways or around the industrial estate, with potential fines of up to £2,500 for non-compliance.
This action followed complaints from a nearby garage business, whose owner argued that the cats were creating health and safety concerns by defecating on their premises. "Her men couldn't work because the cats were doing their business on the sand," Ms. Boler recounted of her interactions with the business owner.
Escalating Tensions and Community Response
The dispute reached a concerning point when Ms. Boler witnessed the business owner pouring bleach on the road in an attempt to deter the animals, with some contaminating the cats' food. This led to mutual reports being filed with the RSPCA.
However, since sharing her story on Facebook at her daughter's urging, Ms. Boler has received overwhelming support from across Yorkshire:
- Cat lovers have visited Milly's Cafe with gifts of food, biscuits, chocolates, and cards
- Numerous offers to cover potential legal costs and fines
- GoFundMe pages established to support her efforts
- The Cat Action Trust has collected food for the cats during the feeding ban
"The support has been absolutely tremendous," Ms. Boler said. "I've had phone calls from thousands of people who I don't even know."
A Compromise Emerges
A local businessman has now offered Ms. Boler permission to tend to the cats on his private premises, an arrangement the council has accepted. This provides a temporary solution while the written warning remains in effect.
Alice Ostapjuk-Wise, a volunteer with the Cat Action Trust, emphasized the importance of such compromises: "We just want to do what we can because some councils actually choose to exterminate feral cat colonies - and that's the last thing we want."
Council's Position and Ongoing Concerns
Barnsley Council explained their intervention stemmed from multiple complaints about fouling creating health and safety risks for businesses, staff, and visitors. A spokesperson stated: "We understand this situation has been upsetting, and we recognise the person involved was acting with good intentions, out of concern for animal welfare."
The council clarified that the community protection warning represents an early preventative measure rather than enforcement action, aiming to balance animal welfare with public health concerns. They encouraged collaboration with recognized animal welfare organizations for managing stray animals safely.
Despite the compromise, Ms. Boler's primary wish remains unfulfilled: "I just want my cats back. I love them all and I wish that I could fetch them home, but they're too scared." The situation continues to highlight the complex challenges of managing urban wildlife while respecting both business interests and compassionate animal care.
