Ripon, California is considering Ordinance No. 939, which would prohibit feeding animals on public property and could directly affect established community cat colonies and the people who care for them.

Taking away food will cause real suffering. These cats did not choose to be abandoned or born outside, and they should not be left hungry as a way to deal with the population problem. A feeding ban does not address the real causes of the problem, including abandonment, lack of affordable spay and neuter resources, and uncontrolled reproduction.

People who care for community cats use food to monitor them, identify sick or injured animals, locate new cats and kittens, and successfully trap them for Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR). Without access to food, TNR and humane care become much more difficult.

We are asking Ripon to support solutions that actually reduce the community cat population, including TNR, affordable spay and neuter services, keeping feeding areas clean, and stronger enforcement against people who dump or abandon animals.

We also believe people caring for community cats should be protected from others intentionally removing, contaminating, or destroying the food and water they provide.

The cats are already here. They did not create this problem, and starving them is not a solution.