Petition to Address the Environmental and Public Health Impact of Outdoor Cats

We, the undersigned, urge local and federal governments (in the United States of America and its territories) to adopt comprehensive measures to mitigate the negative effects of free-roaming outdoor cats on wildlife, public health, and ecosystems. Specifically, we propose:

1. Ban Outdoor Cat Feeding: Prohibit the intentional feeding of feral or stray cats to reduce population growth and mitigate their impact on native wildlife.

2. Empower Landowners: Grant landowners the right to humanely euthanize free-roaming cats on their property, following strict ethical and legal guidelines.

3. Enable Park Management: Authorize government agencies to humanely cull feral cats in state and national parks to protect endangered species and maintain ecological balance.

The Problem
Outdoor cats are a significant threat to biodiversity and public health. Consider these alarming statistics:

- The U.S. has an estimated 70 million feral cats, which kill approximately 500 million birds annually and destroy 2 billion birds, mammals, and reptiles each year.
- Outdoor cats are responsible for 69% of bird deaths caused by cats, contributing to the loss of 1.3 to 4 billion birds annually in the U.S.
- Feral cat populations grow rapidly; females produce an average of 1.6 litters per year, with 5 kittens per litter.
- Diseases such as toxoplasmosis, which is spread by outdoor cats, pose serious risks to humans and wildlife, including marine mammals like sea otters.

Why Current Solutions Are Insufficient
Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) programs manage only 2% of the feral cat population and often re-release predators back into ecosystems. While well-intentioned, these programs fail to address the rapid reproduction rates of feral cats or their devastating impact on native species.

The Need for Action
Free-roaming outdoor cats are one of the leading causes of bird and small mammal deaths in North America. Their unchecked populations disrupt ecosystems, threaten endangered species, and spread diseases harmful to humans and wildlife alike. Without decisive action, these impacts will continue to escalate.

Our Proposal
We call on governments at all levels to implement policies that balance humane treatment with environmental conservation by:
- Banning outdoor cat feeding to discourage population growth.
- Allowing landowners to humanely euthanize free-roaming cats on their property under strict guidelines.
- Empowering government agencies to cull feral cat populations in state and national parks where they threaten biodiversity.

Sign This Petition
By signing this petition, you are supporting responsible policies that protect our ecosystems, safeguard public health, and ensure a sustainable future for native wildlife.

Sources
Loss, S.R., Will, T., & Marra, P.P. (2013). The impact of free-ranging domestic cats on wildlife in the United States. Nature Communications. https://doi.org/10.1038/ncomms2380
American Bird Conservancy (n.d.). Cats Indoors Program: The Problem with Outdoor Cats. https://abcbirds.org/program/cats-indoors/
Lepczyk, C.A., et al. (2010). What Conservation Biologists Can Do to Counter Trap-Neuter-Return: Response to Longcore et al. Conservation Biology.
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC). (2021). Toxoplasmosis: Epidemiology & Risk Factors. https://www.cdc.gov/parasites/toxoplasmosis/
Dauphine, N., & Cooper, R.J. (2011). Impacts of Free-ranging Domestic Cats (Felis catus) on Birds in the United States: A Review of Recent Research with Conservation and Management Recommendations. Proceedings of the Fourth International Partners in Flight Conference.