The Californian city with more cats than people and the reasons behind it
Shelters report a surge in owner surrenders as Americans are forced to give up their pet, leaving millions of cats to fend for themselves outdoors.
The street cat population is on the rise in some of the United States’ biggest cities, largely as a result of owners being unable to afford to keep their pets rather than an increase in the number of feral cats.
Street cats may outnumber people in Los Angeles
According to Will Zweigart, the executive director of Flatbush Cats, a nonprofit formed to reduce the outdoor cat population in Brooklyn, there are an estimated 1 million cats without owners in NY. However, that figure could be significantly higher in Los Angeles, where it is believed there could be up to 4 million street cats. Per the United States Census Bureau, the (human) population of LA was just under 3.9 million in 2024.
But while feral cats previously made up 80% of street cats, Zweigart says approximately half of those now roaming the streets are “friendly cats,” who once lived in homes with their owners. “We’re seeing more people unable to care for their pets,” he says.
Pet ownership “out of reach” for average American
The reason, it seems, is down to simple economics.
“Pet ownership is now out of reach for the average American,” Zweigart concludes.
According to Shelter Animals Count, approximately 32% of all pets that ended up in shelters were owner surrenders, a 1.5% rise from five years earlier.
Although harder to calculate, the belief is that something similar is happening on the streets, with owners abandoning their cats due to the increasing costs of looking after one.
Smaller houses and rising vet costs
Whether that’s down to inflation causing owners to downsize to new houses, where they don’t have space for pets, or the spiraling costs of veterinary care, cats - and other animals - are paying the price.
“This is the worst it’s been in the decade I’ve been in animal welfare,” explains Katy Hansen, director of marketing and communications for Animal Care Centers of NYC, the city’s largest shelter. “It’s a combination of people surrendering their pets and people not adopting because they’re not sure they can take on the financial commitment.”
Los Angeles resident forced to sell home she loves
One Los Angeles resident reveals she is desperate to sell the house she loves, that she only bought in 2022, simply due to the overwhelming number of cats she continually finds in her yard.
“The amount of cat feces we’re exposed to is truly insane,” explains Jane (not her real name). “It’s something people have come to expect in LA. Cats are in everybody’s yards.”
“Jane” is now not only struggling to sell a home with a yard overrun by stray cats, but also grappling with how to find a new one where she won’t face the same problem.
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