American Association of Feline Practitioners

Free-roaming, Abandoned, and Feral Cats Position Statement

2012 Free-roaming, Abandoned, and Feral Cats

The AAFP supports the welfare of all cats, and strongly supports public education and efforts to promote responsible care of unowned, abandoned, and feral cats. The numbers of free-roaming, abandoned and feral cats in the United States are estimated to range from 70 to 100 million. 1,2 Ignoring this population has implications for the welfare of the cats themselves, public health, wildlife and ecosystems.