Both statistics and Internet admiration confirm that Felis catus—the domestic cat—is the most popular pet in the world. Tens of millions of the regal, purring creatures live in homes in the U.S. Tens of millions more are free-roaming, living together in colonies and inhabiting the hidden corners of cities, towns, and suburbs where humans rarely go. In New York City, the number of feral and stray cats is estimated to be in the tens of thousands.
The overwhelming feral-cat population has become a global issue, and how best to confront the problem is fiercely debated. Just recently, the Australian government pledged to kill two million feral cats, in an effort to save the wildlife upon which they’ve preyed. New York, like many other American cities, has a network of grassroots organizations and volunteers who have embraced more humane—and, many argue, more effective—population-control methods like Trap-Neuter-Return, or T.N.R. In July, the state Senate approved new legislation that would, for the first time, fund T.N.R. efforts. It still awaits Governor Cuomo’s signature.