For more than a decade, a managed colony of sterilized feral cats lived peacefully at Renishaw Farm, a residential estate owned by the Crookes Brothers on KwaZulu-Natal's South Coast.

Dedicated volunteers cared for the colony every day, ensuring the cats were fed, monitored, and healthy. Cats of Durban worked alongside the carers to assist with sterilising new arrivals and maintaining the colony through internationally recognized Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) practices.

A few weeks ago, the entire colony disappeared.

Witnesses have alleged that the cats were trapped after being lured into a crate with food and removed from the property. It has further been alleged that the cats were euthanized. Renishaw Farm management disputes this account, and these differing versions of events have caused significant concern within the community.

Regardless of the differing accounts, the disappearance of an entire managed colony has devastated residents, volunteers, and animal welfare supporters who dedicated years to caring for these cats.

This is about far more than one colony.

It is about ensuring that no managed community of animals can disappear without transparency, consultation, or accountability.

It is about recognizing that humane, science-based solutions already exist.

Around the world, Trap-Neuter-Return programmes are recognized as the most effective and compassionate way to manage community cat populations. Sterilized colonies stabilise numbers, reduce nuisance behaviours, naturally control rodents, and prevent the "vacuum effect," where new unsterilized cats simply move into an area.

Destroying managed colonies does not solve the problem—it often makes it worse.

We respectfully call upon the Crookes Brothers to demonstrate leadership by:

1. Commissioning an independent review into the circumstances surrounding the disappearance of the managed cat colony at Renishaw Farm and communicating the findings transparently.

2. Adopting a formal humane animal management policy that recognizes Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) as the preferred method of managing community cats.

3. Requiring consultation with Cats of Durban, recognised animal welfare organisations, and registered colony carers before any action is taken involving stray or feral animals on the estate.

4. Committing publicly that future decisions involving community animals will prioritize compassion, transparency, and internationally recognized humane practices.

Your signature can make a difference.
History has shown that when communities speak with one voice, change happens.

If you believe every life deserves compassion...

If you believe humane solutions are always better than unnecessary destruction...

If you believe property owners should work with, not against, the people who dedicate their lives to animal welfare...

Please sign this petition today.

Then share it with your family, friends, neighbours, rescue organisations, veterinarians, and every person who believes that kindness should guide our actions.

Together, we can ensure that the cats of Renishaw Farm are remembered—not forgotten—and that their story becomes the catalyst for lasting change across South Africa.