Hampton Cat Welfare Advocates Launch Website to Address Stray and Feral Cat Issues

The website, SaveHamptonCats.org, was created by a coalition of animal welfare organizations in response to a Facebook post by the Hampton Police. This post promoted full-time cat trapping services through the Hampton Animal Response Team (HART), previously known as Hampton Animal Control. Concerns arose from advocates who found the advertisement to be vague and misleading.

Dozens of supporters attended a Hampton City Council meeting in July to express their worries. Young highlighted the confusing nature of the HART name, which may suggest rescue efforts, leading residents to believe that trapped cats would be sent to a no-kill shelter. However, Young clarified that cats captured by HART are taken to the Peninsula Regional Animal Shelter, where over 1,100 cats were euthanized in 2023 due to health issues, space limitations, or behavioral problems.

Hampton City Manager Mary Bunting acknowledged that euthanization is not the preferred choice of the shelter staff, emphasizing that it is reserved for cases where euthanization of any animal is necessary, but they do not target healthy animals intentionally.

Young pointed out that many healthy feral cats and stressed strays are unnecessarily euthanized when they fail to adapt to the shelter environment. "Any cat that’s going to be trapped is going to be scared," she said, noting how friendly cats can be misidentified as feral and face euthanasia.

The new website advocates for the cessation of full-time cat trapping in Hampton, increased resources for spaying and neutering outdoor feral cats, and a simplified process for registering TNR (trap-neuter-return) colonies, where trapped cats are sterilized and returned to their outdoor homes. Current city regulations require TNR colonies to be registered, with sterilization of all cats included and community support from nearby residents.

Young explained that the veto power held by residents not residing adjacent to a proposed TNR colony often stifles such efforts, leading to only three registered colonies in Hampton. She recounted a situation where a shop owner was pressured to remove TNR’d cats after a complaint from a distant resident.

During the City Council meeting, Bunting recognized the HART post as misleading and stated she would not have approved its wording. She emphasized the need for trapping services to be accurately described as responses to nuisance complaints from residents.

While Bunting voiced support for TNR programs, she maintained that they must comply with city ordinances. She underscored that euthanasia remains a “last resort” measure, stating that its use is not opposed by the American Veterinary Medical Association in managing free-roaming cat populations.

Young remains optimistic about potential changes in city policy, advocating for collaboration among the shelter, animal control, nonprofits, and the community. "The system’s broken and we all need to work together," she said, urging for improved strategies to address Hampton's cat population.