Insider Tips November 28, 2022

What’s Up With The Free Roaming Cats?

What’s up with all of the cats in Hawaii?

 

Free-roaming Cats have established populations on all eight of the main Hawaiian Islands. Since Europeans first brought them over This is a complicated and controversial issue. Right now some cat colonies are completely on their own and hunt for all of their food which has detrimental effects on the bird populations. While others in more populated areas are well fed and monitored by volunteer groups. The overall goal is to decrease the population for the good of the cats and the Hawaii eco-system. 

 

Cats have no wild predators on the islands. The current method in place to reduce the populations is TNR (trap, neuter, return), and it is largely led by nonprofits and volunteers. They are also micro-chipped and notch is made on the tip of the ear (male left ear, female right ear). This makes it evident by sight if a cat is neutered and chipped. 

When cats are determined to be friendly and good candidates for pets they are often put up for adoption after neutering rather than being returned.

 

We have several cat colonies here in the resort area, you can see them napping in the trees at Anaeho’omalu Bay (A-Bay) and hanging around the shelters, feeders, and in the lava rocks behind Queens Marketplace.

 

For more information check out these links: 

Abay Kitties takes care of many of the cats right here in Waikoloa Resort ~ Donations are always appreciated. 

Rock Star Pets have kitties for adoption as well as quality pet supplies. 

Hawaii Invasive Species Council is a great resource for more information about the impacts of feral cats on the Islands.