Los Angeles has a considerably large and growing community cat population that is estimated to be anywhere from 1-3 million free roaming cats. These high population densities create ideal conditions for the transfer of infectious diseases that can affect both domestic and wild cats. This project aims to understand how ecological and social factors impact disease spread in community cats.
A unique and central aspect of this study is its reliance on community participation. Residents across LA County can contribute our study by reporting outdoor cat sightings through our public survey. These reports will not only enhance mapping of colony locations but also enrich behavioral and ecological datasets, making this a citizen science-driven initiative.
Our next steps in this project is to partner with local veterinary clinics to obtain health records and conduct health screenings of city cats. But before we can do this WE NEED YOUR HELP to identify where community cats are across Los Angeles County.
Results will inform targeted public health and animal welfare strategies, enhance existing TNR protocols, and foster greater awareness as well as involvement in community-based feline health initiatives.