New York City Grapples with Surge in Stray Cat Population, Prompts Increased Shelter Requests

The streets of New York City are facing a surge in stray cat populations, as shelter organizers report being inundated with “hundreds of requests daily” to rescue felines. The reasons behind this increase are multifaceted, with experts pointing to a combination of factors related to the COVID-19 pandemic, including higher rates of pet adoptions, disruptions in spay/neuter services, and the escalating costs of animal healthcare.

Meaghan Licari, president of the animal rescue organization PuppyKitty NYC, remarked that the situation has never been more overwhelming since her involvement began in 2017. She attributes this spike to the compounding impacts of the pandemic and its ripple effects on animal welfare. Licari explained that she receives an overwhelming number of requests daily from people who have encountered cats on the streets and need assistance.

Though the exact number of stray cats roaming the city remains uncertain, various organizations have provided rough estimates ranging from 500,000 to 1 million. The founder of the Flatbush Veterinary Clinic, Will Zweigart, expressed concern over the escalating veterinary costs, leading to “spiraling cat populations.” He emphasized the disheartening scene of abandoned cats and kittens left in boxes on the streets, a situation that he described as being worse than ever before.

The severity of the situation prompted the Animal Care Centers of New York City to close down “cat intake centers” at three of its facilities earlier this month. Canines are also affected, with the ACC observing a 77% surge in canine intakes in June compared to the previous year, leading to overcrowded shelters and extended stays for the dogs.

Ryan Tarpey, community program manager at the Flatbush Veterinary Clinic, noted a troubling trend of friendly stray cats in recent years. He speculated that these cats might have originally been domesticated but were either abandoned or escaped due to lack of spaying and neutering, a process crucial for controlling their population.

In response to the crisis, the Flatbush Veterinary Clinic unveiled a new facility that seeks to alleviate the issue by offering affordable spay/neuter services. Will Zweigart, who established the clinic in 2016, envisions performing up to 7,500 operations annually at the new facility, effectively contributing to curbing the city’s cat overpopulation problem.

The NYC Department of Health expressed its commitment to addressing the issue by collaborating with volunteers and organizations. They underscored the importance of responsible pet ownership, encouraging individuals to spay or neuter their cats and keep them indoors to prevent the proliferation of stray populations.