Every day, friendly, domesticated house cats are victims of neglect and abandonment. To no fault of their own, they are thrown outside and forced to survive in often hostile environments.  Most shelters are overcrowded while some don’t accept cats, leaving TNRM (trap/neuter/return/manage) as the only solution to humanely address the overpopulation of homeless cats. 

As “pets/companion animals” they are protected by laws requiring food, shelter and vet care yet are denied those basic necessities when they acquire the label “community” or “homeless” cats.  Unfortunately one many misconceptions is that “community cats” are feral and able to survive on their own when in reality the majority of homeless cats in suburban areas were once house pets, many whom couldn’t survive without assistance.

Ky. Rev. Stat. § 525.130 outlaws various forms of intentional or wanton mistreatment of animals, including:

⦁ abandonment

⦁ mutilation or torture

⦁ beating, and

⦁ not providing adequate food, drink, space, or veterinary care.

This petition is to repeal the following Kenton County Ordinances enforced by both Kenton County Animal Control (90.60) and Code Enforcement (Chapter 92 Nuisance/General) to make them reasonable and ethical for both homeless cats and the residents it serves. The current Kenton County ordinances are in direct conflict with the state's animal cruelty laws:

90.60.E.2 Uneaten food must be picked up within an hour- Large colonies of cats cannot eat within an hour timeframe. In addition to a hierarchy amongst cat colonies that determines the order in which they eat, homeless cats face a multitude of challenges, including but not limited to, dogs running off leash, harassment by neighbors, stolen or contaminated food and inclimate weather.

Hungry cats encourage “nuisance” behavior that residents often complain about (aggression, getting into trash, etc). 

If cats who’ve become dependent on the food provided to them do not eat, that is neglect and cruelty. 

90.60.E.4 Encourage cats to stay away from people such as by feeding away from streets and public sidewalks- Asking they not be provided food or shelter to “keep them away from people” is illogical. These are homeless animals on heavy populated city streets. The outside is their home and animals roam.

90.56 (3) A caretaker shall not utilize government owned or public property in conjunction with the Trap-Neuter-Return program without obtaining a proper permit or other written consent or permission- Homeless cats inhabiting cat shelters placed on vacant lots, city alleys and even privately owed residential homes are considered a nuisance, per Kenton County agencies. The Community Cat program was adopted by Kenton County to solve a county wide problem. Its ordinances should align with creating a successful TNR program, which includes allowing community cats to utilize public areas and vacant properties being maintained by the city. 

There will always be some residents who complain about homeless cats but many of these complaints can be resolved through education about the benefits of aTNRM program, deterrents and by county agencies encouraging civil dialogue with neighbors. An effective community cat program is dependent on volunteer support. Without logical and effective ordinances, agencies are working against those people helping the cats. Ineffective ordinances create adversaries among community members. Ordinances should work with them and not against them.

Life on the street is difficult enough without creating obstacles to basic necessities. By signing this petition, you agree that these ordinances are not an effective or humane solution for community cats and need to be repealed.