Cats Indoors! Claim:
“Starting in 1989, the volunteer group ORCAT at Ocean Reef on North Key Largo, reportedly trapped and had neutered approximately 200 cats a year for five years. However, the cat population only grew larger. More intense efforts were needed, which led to the community association-sponsored “Feral Cat Center” in 1995. In 20 months the center claimed to have trapped and treated 726 cats, with nearly half released back to the wild after being vaccinated and altered. Another 187 cats were adopted out. As of 1997, part-time staff maintained 27 feeding stations spread over Ocean Reef's 4,000 acres. Ocean Reef's cat population was considered “stabilized” at about 1,000. The Ocean Reef Club boasts a lush, 900-acre nature preserve. Ocean Reef is home of the federally endangered Key Largo woodrat and Key Largo cotton mouse. It has been documented that domestic cats kill these species.”

The Truth:
Ocean Reef’s cats were first brought to the area in the 1950’s to kill the rats that were overrunning the club. In the 1960’s the unsterilized cats were breeding uncontrollably, so the cats were trapped and killed. In the 1970’s the rats were back and cats were again enlisted as exterminators. Predictably, the cats once again multiplied and by the late 1980’s, the population grew to 2,000. In 1989, instead of another trap and kill response, Ocean Reef residents decided to try trap-neuter-return. Today, they have a well-managed colony of 500 cats.

Cats Indoors! Claim:
“Loss and fragmentation of wildlife habitat, resulting from development, road construction, intensive agriculture, and other land uses, are by far the leading causes of declining bird populations. Domestic cats are numerous, efficient, non-native predators who contribute to the decline.”

The Truth:
This information is correct, but neglects to mention that in addition to the man-made threats, cat populations will continue to grow if free-roaming cats are killed rather than controlled through TNR.

Cats Indoors! Claim:
“Animal welfare groups and many veterinarians routinely recommend that cats be kept indoors. The average life expectancy of an outdoor cat is under 5 years, while an indoor cat may live for 17 or more years. Millions of cats annually are hit by cars, injured or killed by other animals, starve, become lost, stolen, or poisoned.”

The Truth:
Indoor cats do tend to live longer, but feral cats are wild and are not usually suitable for adoption. Cats that live outside are susceptible to a number of threats. The American Bird Conservancy (ABC) conveniently omits those that are trapped and killed by Animal Control Services as a result of local ordinances that treat feral cats as “nuisances”. In addition, many animals are abused by individuals who are influenced by negative and false information from sources like Cats Indoors!

Cats Indoors! Claim:
“According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, cats are the domestic animal most commonly found to be rabid. Outdoor cats risk contact with rabid wild animals such as raccoons, skunks, foxes, and bats. Cats are associated with people and rabid animals may become aggressive. These two factors increase the risk of transmission to humans.”

The Truth:
Dr. Julie Levy, associate professor at the College of Veterinary Medicine at the University of Florida, who specializes in feline infectious diseases responds: “All human cases of rabies in this country during the past decade were contracted from wildlife. When domestic animals were involved, rabies were contracted in foreign countries. Thus, cats may be the victims of wildlife rabies, but are not the cause of it….oral vaccination of wildlife would be a more effective strategy than removing feral cats.”

Cats Indoors! Claim:
“Free-roaming cats are also the principle cause of cat overpopulation. Millions of cats are euthanized each year because there are not enough homes…Humane societies and animal care and control agencies struggle daily to rescue, treat, feed, and house stray and unwanted cats.”

The Truth:
Unsterilized, free-roaming cats are the principle cause of overpopulation. Properly implemented, trap-neuter-return has been proven to stabilize and reduce feral feline populations. Trapping free-roaming cats will add millions more to shelter overload and the euthanization rate.