It seems that this is what a group of scientists and several animal welfare organizations thought when launching a pioneering plan in Washington D.C. A protocol we are discussing today because, on the one hand, it highlights the inability of administrations to deal effectively and respectfully with cat overpopulation. On the other hand, it demonstrates the willingness of “ordinary” people to do something to improve pets’ lives.
As we have said on more than one occasion, unwanted litters are the leading cause of animal abandonment. So, if we add the cats born on the streets to the number of abandoned cats, unsterilized domestic cats that leave home and mate with female cats living on the streets, and so on, the number of kittens born in a year runs into the thousands worldwide.
Some people believe that cats have taken over the streets, that they eat birds, and that they transmit diseases dangerous to humans. There is a smear campaign against cats, when it should be directed at those who abandon, abuse, and neglect them. Angry people believe that felines are a problem in cities, when in reality these poor animals do no harm at all—in fact, quite the opposite.
Well, in Washington D.C., a group of scientists and animal welfare advocates have said “absolutely not” and decided to invest one and a half million dollars to count all the felines in Washington D.C. The goal is to provide institutions with accurate, reliable information before they take any hasty anti-cat measures in response to pressure from certain social groups.
Over the next three years, the project D. C. Cat Count (D.C. Cat Census) will conduct a cat census that will include stray cats as well as domestic cats. This count will be carried out with help from neighbors and citizens, as well as professionals from the entities and organizations involved in the study. It will consist of several phases:
1. First, a network of 60 cameras with infrared sensors will be installed. They will be distributed throughout the city to collect information from public roads, parks, and vacant lots, where most cat colonies are located.
2. Second, door-to-door and household surveys will be conducted throughout the city (a task that will be assigned to two full-time employees) to count the number of feline pets living with Washington families.
3. Third, an app will be launched so residents can upload photos of their cats, as well as cats they see on the streets. This will allow the census to be expanded and reach areas that the cameras and dedicated teams cannot access.
This will provide three reliable and independent sources for an accurate count that can serve as a model for other cities around the world facing the dilemma of cat overpopulation.
It is worth remembering that there are 86 million domestic cats in the United States—one for every one and a half households—and between 30 and 40 million stray cats, according to figures from the Humane Society. Thanks to this innovative census, it will be possible to determine how many cats there really are in Washington, identify their needs, and figure out how to help shelters manage their resources more effectively. This is something that the administration has largely overlooked until now. The current approach is to trap, neuter, and release cats. Its effectiveness is systematically questioned by “cat lovers,” as well as by animal welfare organizations. Regardless of its effectiveness, there is no doubt that it is not the cheapest method of feline population control. Nor is it the most humane.
If everything goes as planned, the results of the cat census will be presented in June 2021. So we will continue reporting on how things are going for the felines of Washington D.C.