Attitude towards feral cats. Southern versus Northern States, USA.

Feral cat Northern USA
Feral cat Northern USA

Is there a genuine difference between the attitudes of the citizens of the southern and northern states of the USA in respect of feral cats? It seems that there might be and if so it is probably a part of the overall cultural differences. It is probably accepted that there is a difference between the attitudes and culture of the people of the south and north.

Is it fair to say that Americans living in the south are more likely to be religious fundamentalists (think: bible belt), less open-minded, less well educated, more traditional etc. compared to Americans living in the north of the country? Southerners are also said to be friendly but northerners sometimes call them rednecks.

In return, southerners call their northern counterparts Yankees. The term “redneck” conjures up images of poorly educated, ignorant, rural poor white people who are likely to treat animals less well than educated people. I am told there is more gun crime in the south. Are there more guns in the south?

How does this show up in attitudes towards feral cats? Well, there are two recent examples.

The South

Marion County, Florida has a cat confinement law and there is a commercial business treating feral cats as pests in Florida. Dee (a regular contributor) who lives in Florida, paints a picture of cat life in Florida which is quite anti-cat (is that fair?) or at least that is the impression I have.

The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission does not outlaw TNR but neither does it endorse or support it. Their policy is:

“to protect native wildlife from predation, disease and other impacts presented by feral and free-ranging cats.”

This is not necessarily anti-cat but it hints and prioritising the lives of native species over the non-native feral cat and at the killing of feral cats if necessary. Although, they don’t specifically endorse killing feral cats. However, their policy document originally referred to the ineffectiveness of TNR. It was modified due to public criticism.

The North

In NE Connecticut (one of the New England states) the government has awarded a $175,000 grant to the North-eastern Connecticut Council of Governments for TNR of feral cats. That is a sizeable sum of money for TNR and it is state funded. That seems an enlightened decision and quite rare to me.

Volunteers will be co-opted from a 9-town-area to assist and it is expected that 1,000 feral cats will undergo trap-neuter-return.

Most of the funding will be spent on veterinary fees for neutering and spaying plus any other treatments deemed necessary.

John Filchak, the council’s executive director is optimistic about TNR citing that in areas it has reduced feral cat populations by 55%.

A Connecticut town called Killingly (slightly macabre name) has a proposed law making cat neutering obligatory. You can see a trend towards proactive, preventative steps to reduce feral cat population sizes in Connecticut, which is the only way to make long term progress.

Ancestry

The north and northeast ancestors are Germans, English, Irish and French. The ancestors of the south are Americans, Puerto Ricans while Florida has predominantly German ancestry. The extreme southwest is predominantly Mexican.

USA ancestry

Conclusions?

The north is perhaps more inclined to take long term humane preventative measures against feral cats while the south is more inclined to be reactive and to consider trap and kill.


Photo top of page: Daria Zeoli via Your Daily Vegan (image modified slightly).

10 thoughts on “Attitude towards feral cats. Southern versus Northern States, USA.”

  1. The author of the best comment will receive an Amazon gift of their choice at Christmas! Please comment as they can add to the article and pass on your valuable experience.
  2. I agree if you are a dog lover (which I am that as well but do not foster them) dog lovers and dog rescuers are golden! If you are a cat lover and a cat rescuer you are crazy cat people and hoarders because you foster cats. It does not mater if you adopted 200 cats into new families spayed and neutered 500 you are a Crazy cat Lady or Crazy CATMAN! Up north the laws protect animals down here they do not. I think the bad attitude and labeling comes from the top with the Governing bodies leading the way in the south!

  3. Thanks Geri. For me looking in, the demarcation is not huge between the south and north but there is slight difference of opinion in their attitude towards cats particularly in relation to feral cats. It is about what I call “enlightenment” (a better and more rounded understanding through education and experience).

  4. Geri thats heartbreaking I’m so sorry 🙁 here in the UK we have always been known as a nation of animal lovers but more recently there seems to be a shift so many cats are disappearing, people seem to be less tolerant however rescues such as the CPL and the big one the RSPCA are respected and heavily endorsed. Sorry to say it but it will be a sad day if we ever move so far that we adopt the attitudes of the cat haters of South America. On a positive note however how great is it about that HUGE injection of cash into TNR? And how great will it be to show all the haters that its the way to go once they realise it works!

  5. Many in the south come from the north or elsewhere. Unfortunately they are the less desirable type.In general though,the south is more anti-cat than the north.And many take great delight in hurting the cat lover in various ways.The cruelty towards the cats and caretaker can be heartbreaking.And the AC adds to the meanness.It angers me that cat people do not spend their time making others lives miserable,but the cat haters seem to think it is their job to be cruel to the cats and us.

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