Since we moved to Alameda in 2005, we have been inundated in our back yard with neighbors’ cats, both outdoor fed feral and indoor cats with access to the outdoors all day and night. We used to scoop up quarts of cat feces from our yard every week, and couldn’t sit in our yard without the smell of cat urine. And not one neighbor who owned or fed the cats felt it was their responsibility to protect us from the excrement and pee from their property, their owned cats; not one would do a damn thing to protect our right to enjoy our back yard. Moreover, every one treated us with hostility, as though we were the ones totally out. of. line.
Upside down, inside out. Why are cat owners so oblivious to their responsibility for their property? Why do they feel self-righteous about the negative externalities that they are perpetrating on neighbors, birds, our environment, and our city?
How to fix…
Just like dogs, our city should have an ordinance that requires cats to be on leash at all times when outdoors.
Now we have this problem of people feeding feral, unfixed/unspayed cats at Jean Sweeney Park.
There are two primary reasons for requiring cats to be indoors, and both reasons protect the health and wellness of our community and environment:
ONE: Prevent the spread of disease and insects by uncontrolled cat feces and urine in our parks and yards.
TWO: Prevent the decimation of our bird population.
Please read this December 2021 study from our county health vector control department, and comment below on this topic. Thank you.
Denise Lai
Raising Hell For Good 