Caring for Feral Cats Prohibited

by Amanda Katz, Charlotte LoBuono and Sarah Wahlert

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission (FWCC) recently prohibited on lands that it manages "the release, feeding or protection" of feral cats in order to prevent the animals from preying upon wildlife.

The Commission explicitly banned employment of the so-called "trap, neuter and release" (TNR) method of managing feral cat colonies that is used by a large number of animal welfare organizations.

"It’s not the ‘T’ and the ‘N’ I have a problem with - it’s the ‘R,’" said Commissioner H. A. Huffman.

Feral cats will be seized and then made available for adoption, incorporated into contained colonies or as a last resort euthanized, according to FWCC Wildlife Division Director Frank Montalbano.

Alley Cat Allies, which promotes use of the TNR method, requested that the FWCC conduct a survey to measure the impact feral cats have on wildlife before making a decision, but no such survey was carried out.

Some individuals who spoke at a public hearing held by the FWCC shortly before the prohibition was approved warned that pet cats roaming outside might mistakenly be seized.

Others stated they believed that the main reason for the declines of many wildlife populations in Florida was development, and feral cats were being used as scapegoats in order to deflect attention.

American Bird Conservancy Cats Indoors! Program Director Linda Winter, who was one of the few people to express support for the prohibition, said that feral cats live "short and miserable lives," and therefore should be seized.

© 2003 Animal News Center, Inc.