US halts plan to remove iconic stray cats from a historic area in Puerto Rico's capital

Alley Cat Allies, an advocacy organization for the humane treatment of cats, has filed a lawsuit against the U.S. National Park Service (NPS) to halt the removal of community cats from the historic district of Old San Juan, Puerto Rico. The NPS had proposed removing an estimated 200 cats from the area surrounding the Paseo del Morro, a seaside fortress in San Juan, citing concerns over sanitation and the impact of the cats on the site. The plan, which could involve lethal measures, has sparked strong opposition from animal advocates and locals who see the cats as part of the area's cultural identity.

US halts plan to remove iconic stray cats from a historic area in Puerto Rico's capital. Image: DALLE.

Alley Cat Allies argues that the NPS's plan violates the National Environmental Policy Act (NEPA) and other legal protections, insisting that the longstanding Trap-Neuter-Return (TNR) program, which controls the cat population humanely, is a more effective solution. The organization has also sought a temporary restraining order to stop the removal, citing the likelihood of new cats moving in if the current population is eliminated (known as the "Vacuum Effect"). They emphasize that killing the cats would be not only cruel but also futile.

“It’s a victory for the short term, but long term, these cats are still at risk,” said Yonaton Aronoff, an attorney for Maryland-based Alley Cat Allies. Aronoff said in a phone interview that removing the current cats is an impossible task since new cats would take their place.

“They’re going to have to keep doing this forever,” he said. This legal battle highlights broader debates about wildlife management, community values, and humane treatment of animals.

Puerto Rico is under U.S. jurisdiction. It is an unincorporated U.S. territory, which means that while it is part of the United States, it does not have the full rights of a U.S. state. Puerto Ricans are U.S. citizens, but the island has limited representation in Congress, and residents cannot vote in U.S. presidential elections. The U.S. federal government, including agencies like the National Park Service (NPS), has authority over certain aspects of governance and legal matters on the island.

Sources: Alley Cat Allies and Associated Press.

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P.S. please forgive the occasional typo. These articles are written at breakneck speed using Dragon Dictate. I have to prepare them in around 20 mins. Also: sources for news articles are carefully selected but the news is often not independently verified. Also, I rely on scientific studies but they are not 100% reliable.