Despite united opposition from Audubon Florida, Defenders of Wildlife, Florida Wildlife Federation and the American Bird Conservancy, as well as testimony from private property owners affected negatively by adjacent feral cat colonies, the House Agriculture and Natural Resources Subcommittee voted unanimously Wednesday to pass HB 1121 - Community Cats.

Opponents cited:

1. concerns for wildlife: free-roaming cats kills more than kill 1.4-3.7 billion birds in the United States each year, and in Florida kill imperiled species like Florida Scrub-jays, Black Skimmers, Snowy Plovers and more.
2. concerns for public health: the Florida Department of Health calls feral cat colonies “not tenable on public health grounds” in its 2012 rabies bulletin, and
3. concerns for private property: private property owners adjacent to colonies often report cats roaming their private property, predating their wildlife, damaging personal property, and using gardens and children’s sandboxes as litter boxes.

On the House side, this bill still has three more committee stops—a tall order as committee hearings are coming to a close next week. On the Senate side, the bill has three committee stops, and has not yet been added to an agenda.

Thank you to all the advocates who wrote to the committee urging them to oppose the bill; the Session is not over yet so stay tuned. We may need you to lend your voice again on this legislation in coming weeks.

BREAKING - 4/1: The Senate Companion bill, SB 1320, has been Temporarily Postponed in the Senate Agriculture committee. Thank you to all who spoke up on behalf of Florida's native birds and wildlife.