Who knew the plight of Kauai’s feral cat population could be a threat to its tourism?
Such seems to be the case as more Mainlanders are threatening to boycott Kauai and rally supporters to their cause should island leaders proceed with a plan to eliminate the estimated 20,000 feral cats here in the next decade.
Here’s what a few wrote to The Garden Island:
n “I love Kauai, and I would like to get the details on the lethal culling of cats on the island. It’s very difficult to put my head around this. Actually, I’m stunned. I have contacted PETA and expect to hear back from them soon about the details. I am a Mainland journalist/author and I’d like to tell this story to the rest of the world so they can decide for themselves how to digest this issue and if they’d like to boycott Kauai, or if they think nothing of it.”
n“I am a tourist from California who visits this beautiful island twice a year. Upon hearing of the horrific idea of killing all feral cats on this island as opposed to humane TNR (trap, neuter, release) practices — I will NOT return and spend my money. TNR has proven to be effective. You should also consider mandatory spay and neuter laws. Killing all of these cats is NOT the answer and word is quickly spreading in California about this. Kauai is better than this! Please have some compassion and consider all forms of animal control!”
n“I’m from California and there are numerous feral cats that thrive with educated care givers that spay and neuter, one colony was over 200 cats is now down to 30 cats over a 5-year period due to spay and neutering. Please don’t turn your state into a kill state.”
Kauai is facing a difficult situation with its feral cats. It would be great if they could be trapped, neutered and released, as many suggest, to reduce their population. It would be wonderful if they could all be saved and have homes. But the Kauai Humane Society is already filled with cats. Doesn’t seem you could successfully add thousands to the mix. No one wants to euthanize hundreds or thousands of cats. We support efforts to keep them alive and well. But while Kauai’s feral cats are alive, they’re not well. They face a daily fight for survival. The status quo can’t continue. Lifelong Kauai residents have said the cat crisis is getting worse.
The Feral Cat Task Force says the answer could be this: Step up education efforts, strengthen local laws and use various methods to combat Kauai’s growing feral cat problem. It also said its goal is to have “zero feral, abandoned and stray cats on the island by the year 2025,” according to their 113-page final report. It’s that part, about zero cats by 2025, that caught the attention of many. Kauai Albatross Network Founder Hob Osterlund, a task force member, summarized the situation well: “Everyone on the Feral Cat Task Force agreed that there should be no feral and abandoned cats on the landscape. Not everyone had the same idea of the optimal means to achieve that end.”
Some say trap, neuter release should be emphasized. Others said that won’t change anything, it will take too long and too many seabirds will continue to be killed by feral cats. They say euthanasia must be part of the solution. If it is, some Mainlanders are threatening to boycott Kauai and paint this island as a heartless place that wants to eradicate feral cats because it can’t think of anything else to do.
The task force will present its findings to the County Council Wednesday. Then, it will be up to the council as to the next step. We do not envy their dilemma. Do nothing and they ignore the task force’s recommendation. Agree to euthanize cats and there are those who will turn this into a national story of an island issuing a death sentence for feral cats. They’re not wrong when they say it could adversely affect tourism, which drives this island’s economic engine. We support TNR and waiting to see if it has the desired results. We wish our leaders well and will count on them to make a decision with the best in mind for Kauai and the people and wildlife that call it home.
