BROWARD COUNTY, Fla. – As feral cat populations surge across South Florida, communities clash over feeding practices and solutions. Animal advocates stress the need for unity and spaying/neutering programs to curb the issue.
In Hollywood, Tom Kaiser has been feeding feral cats in a local park for six years.
“I get cats adopted, and then the next thing you know, there’s more cats dropped off,” Kaiser said, describing the continuous cycle of stray cats in the area.
He now feeds around 30 cats, down from 50, and credits the drop to his efforts to ensure the animals are spayed or neutered. However, for many, the issue extends far beyond individual efforts like Kaiser’s.
Kaiser, like many in South Florida, is part of a group of cat feeders who believe they are helping manage the situation by providing food and getting the cats sterilized.
But their actions often spark conflict with others in the community. In Miami Gardens, for example, a confrontation erupted between a cat feeder and a resident, with the resident accusing the feeder of littering by leaving food for the cats.
“You’re going to get reported to 311. I’m reporting you to code enforcement,” the man said. In response, the feeder defended her actions, saying, “The cats were eating, I have the video. These cats are not neutered, these cats are not community cats. They are! Check their ears!”
The rules governing community cats are anything but straightforward.
The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission has a policy, but no official regulation, on feral and free-range cats. While killing feral cats is strictly prohibited, the feeding of outdoor cats, even those in Trap-Neuter-Release (TNR) programs, remains controversial in many communities.
Under TNR, stray cats are captured, sterilized, and then returned to their original location, a practice supported by animal advocates as a humane solution to population control.
“Trap-Neuter-Release is condoned, but guess what is not? Feeding the outdoor cats!” Birch said.
In South Florida, cities allow feral cats to be fed on public property, as long as the caretakers ensure the animals are spayed, neutered, and vaccinated. Once sterilized, a cat’s ear is “tipped,” a universal signal that the animal has been fixed.
Cat feeders like Kaiser take the extra steps to have the cats vaccinated and sterilized, but not everyone follows these guidelines.
Erica Erickson, a feral cat expert who traveled from North Carolina to South Florida to help manage the situation, believes the solution is clear.
“I think we all have the same goal, which is eliminating feral cats, but the way to do it is the humane way, and the humane way is also the more cost-effective and efficient way, so to me it’s a no-brainer,” she said.
Erickson has worked in communities across the country to solve feral cat overpopulation issues and believes South Florida can make progress with widespread access to affordable spay and neuter services.
“I have extensively researched this, I have worked on it, I have successfully solved cat overpopulation problems in counties, and the first, the biggest major thing we need is large-scale access to free and affordable spay neuter,” Erickson added.
Despite the best efforts of animal advocates, life for feral cats is harsh. Most die within three years, while kittens born on the streets often do not survive beyond six months.
Many of the cats roaming South Florida’s neighborhoods were not born feral but were abandoned by their owners. In one case, Erickson rescued a friendly stray from a park and arranged for it to be rehomed up north, sparing it from the struggle of living homeless on the streets.
Kaiser points to the need for responsible pet ownership and emphasizes the importance of spaying and neutering to prevent future abandonment.
“This is a vicious cycle. It never ends. And it’s because people don’t spay or neuter their animals. It’s the most important part of having a pet,” he said.
The challenge, as both Kaiser and Erickson agree, is not just a cat problem but a community problem. Residents, local governments, and animal advocates need to work together to manage the feral cat population in a humane and effective way.
“We crisscrossed counties, from East Hollywood here to Miami Gardens because we are in search for cat communities that we know exist! But we found out real quick, they don’t come out unless it’s sunrise, sunset or they’re being fed!” Birch said.
For those cats that aren’t fed, their fate is grim. Many die within years, and the cycle continues, fueled by unchecked breeding. “Anywhere there’s trash, we’re going to find the cats,” Erickson said. “Especially in South Florida, because it’s a breeding area, you can breed year-round down here for the cats.”
Kaiser, Erickson, and other advocates continue their efforts, but the solution requires widespread community participation. “Extermination is inhumane, and it doesn’t work anyway. More cats will be back the next day,” Birch said in her report. “We all have to join together in the goal of getting them spayed and neutered.”
For more information on how to help, including links to Trap-Neuter-Release programs, click here or here.
Viewers can also read more of Local 10′s animal advocate stories by clicking here.
